RESIDENTIAL BLOCK

Bordeaux 5-9 April 2004

The April Residential Block took place in Bordeaux and was organised by Jean Marret from the Université Montesquieu IV, one of the course's module leaders. During the first half of the week attention was focussed on the "Environmental and Economic Studies" module under the direction of Dr. Jean Pierre Benoît, director of Economic Studies at C.E.T.E. (Centre d'Etudes Techniques de l'Equipement),a regional division of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport.

On the Wednesday morning, students were taken to visit the distribution warehouse of a major supermarket chain in order to see the logistics process in action before visiting Bordeaux's main traffic control centre in the afternoon. During the course of both visits, detailed explanations were provided by members of staff that worked at both facilities.

During both Thursday and Friday, the students concentrated on the "Logistics Management" module of the course under the direction of Jeannette Lalanne, Professeur Agrégé de Sciences de Gestion at the Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV.

In addition to the course work undertaken, students and staff alike were able to enjoy their free time with our French colleaugues treating us to a fabulous traditional wine tasting and joint meal on the Thursday evening.

The Residential Block is a very important part of the Course which is why every student must attend. Students have the chance to meet the module lecturers and discuss with them any problems they have been having with the module. More importantly, they meet fellow students and share their experiences working on the modules and studying for the MSc. It is a very friendly group of students so that, within a day or two, new students know everyone else and feel very much part of the group.

RESIDENTIAL BLOCK

Budapest 18-22 November 2003

This was the first time the Residential Block took place in Budapest, because the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, is one of the newest universities working within EUROconnect. It was a very succesful week and the students were very enthusiastic as you can read in the column below,written by Joe Clarbour,one of the student representatives:

"During the Residential Block various outings and guest lecturers are organised for the group. In Budapest ,these included trips to the headquarters of the BKV (Budapest Public Transport Company) where we were given the opportunity to learn about the bus,tram and metro systems operated in the city,to a new freight logistics terminal dealing with road/rail transfers and to the oldest metro line in continental Europe. Lecturers included advisers to the Hungarian rail industry,the introduction of road user charging on the Hungarian motorway network and the implications for transportation policy of Hungary joining the European Union. Overall there was a wide coverage of subject matter.

Although intensive in the subject matter covered, the course does offer students a significant amount of time both to socialise and do a bit of sightseeing. One of the aspects of the Residential Block, is to get to know your fellow students, particularly important on a distance-learning course. For this reason, the course organisers arrange social events in the evening with all paricipants, students, lecturers invited to attend. In Budapest the group enjoyed a wine tasting on the Tuesday evening (some more than others!) and a group meal on Thursday, a tradition of each Residential Block. Subjects of conversation can be quite wide ranging at these events altough, by this time, transportation issues are usually avoided as people let their hair down."

About the Residential Blocks in general, Joe says: "The residential trips are designed both to direct and guide your individual work progress and give you the opportunity of meeting your course mates. Until the Residential Block many of the people who are studying the course along with you will simply be names or, at best, a voice on the end of a telephone. My own perception before attending my first Residential Block in Nottingham was that everybody would've completed more work than me as well. However, provided you've attempted the weekly tasks enclosed in each module pack, you soon realise that everybody is in the same boat with the same pressures and problems to overcome. During the week the lecturers involved in the organisation of the course and fellow students, particularly those who've experienced previous modules, give out plenty of support and encouragement. The vast majority of students usually realise at this point that the work they,ve completed so far is definitely on the right track if you'll forgive the pun.