Welcome to the Web site of the Institute for American Universities (IAU).  For nearly fifty years IAU has been providing study abroad in the south of France for students from US colleges and universities. Our alumni, who number in the thousands, tell us of their fond memories—memories of Aix-en-Provence or of Avignon, two cities rich in history. You, too, could spend time in magnificent Provence, experiencing the incomparable French “quality of life.” You, too, could study in this sunny, charming part of the world while—at the same time—completing courses in your major, fulfilling general education requirements, learning or perfecting your French, or engrossing yourself in studio art. At IAU you have the choice of studying in English or in French. You need not know the French language before you arrive.

Today more than ever, first-hand knowledge of other cultures is an essential part of education. Whether you plan on becoming a journalist, an entrepreneur, an artist, a teacher, or a scholar chances are your life and work will take you to other countries. Living and studying while immersed in another culture—understanding that there is no one right way to interpret current events, raise children, worship, protest injustices—develops the transferable intercultural skills that can be drawn on in unfamiliar surroundings.

Many US colleges and universities are enhancing international programs and sending more students abroad just because they recognize that undergraduate students need to learn about the world-wide changes wrought by globalization.  IAU is partnering with many of these institutions and will continue to refine its course offerings to insure their relevance for today’s college students.

So I invite you to peruse our Web site or call our US office to find out more about the range of programs and courses available. My colleagues and I would love to welcome you to the IAU community.  We feel confident that a summer, semester, or year at the Institute for American Universities in either Aix-en-Provence or Avignon—studying the humanities, the social sciences, studio art, business, education, or French—will be a memorable and transforming experience.

Andrea Leskes, PhD
President
Institute for American Universities