Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) continues to strengthen its position on the international stage. Through the French Language Education Study Program at FPBS, UPI, in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), was entrusted with hosting the École d’Été Erasmus+ 2026 Summer School.
Held for the fourth time, École d’Été Erasmus+ once again brought together universities from several countries in an international collaboration organized on a rotating basis. This year, Indonesia was trusted to serve as host through the synergy between Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) and Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ).
This international summer school focuses on developing French language skills in tourism (Le Français du Tourisme). Through a project-based learning approach, the program aims to improve the quality of human resources and advance the tourism sector, particularly in Francophone countries. The activity involved four countries: Indonesia (Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia and Universitas Negeri Jakarta), Malaysia (Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Laos (National University of Laos), and France (Université Savoie Mont Blanc).
Over three days, from 20 to 22 July 2026, 35 students and 12 lecturers participated in a series of activities combining academic learning, cultural exchange, and field experience. The first day began with a welcoming session, introductions of lecturers and participants, a presentation on the École d’Été program, and presentations of traditional cuisine from each country as part of cultural exchange. In the academic session, participants studied Le Français du Tourisme through material on the profile, competencies, and duties of a tour guide (guide touristique), which later served as preparation for practical activities.
Learning then continued through an experiential learning approach. Participants toured Bandung using Bandros and visited several tourist destinations, such as Bocha, a tofu factory, and a dairy farm in the Lembang area. This activity gave participants the opportunity to directly observe tour-guiding practices while applying French in a tourism context.
After completing the agenda in Bandung, all participants continued the program in Jakarta on 22 July 2026 to take part in activities organized by Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ) until 25 July. In Jakarta, participants joined discussions with animators, worked on projects in groups and individually, practiced their skills as tour guides at various locations, and presented their project results as the closing activity of the École d’Été Erasmus+ 2026 series.
During the activities in Bandung, UPI was responsible for facilitating lectures, coordinating the entire operational series, assisting international participants, and sending student and lecturer delegations. The trust given to UPI as host of École d’Été Erasmus+ 2026 reflects the university’s active role in strengthening cross-country academic collaboration and demonstrates its capacity to organize international programs.
Through this activity, UPI not only provided a learning space that brought together academic communities from various countries, but also expanded cooperation networks in education, culture, and tourism. Going forward, the synergy that has been established is expected to continue developing through various other international academic initiatives, allowing more students and lecturers to gain cross-cultural learning experiences and contribute to the global academic community.
(Raden Sasnitya)