France expects the variety of Indian college students within the nation to achieve 10,000 this educational yr, consul common of France in Mumbai, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, informed The PIE.
“We’ve got 8,000 Indian college students in France to this point, and we are actually pushing to have 9,000-10,000 college students within the nation this yr,” he stated on the Select France Tour’s Mumbai leg this weekend.
In recent times, India and France have been looking for nearer ties, with some consultants referring to France as India’s “new finest good friend”.
With each international locations already constructing a strategic relationship in defence, nuclear power, and house, schooling has turn into a key smooth diplomacy device.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who served because the chief visitor for India’s seventy fifth Republic Day celebrations, introduced earlier this yr that France is aiming to host 30,000 Indian college students in France by 2030.
“The goal of 30,000 college students is formidable however very doable. France has some glorious universities and affords a variety of programs, that are less expensive than international locations just like the US and the UK,” stated Philippe Maurin, attaché for scientific and educational cooperation, French Consulate in Mumbai.
“Over 1,700 packages in France are taught in English, which could be actually useful for Indian college students. Although we see a whole lot of curiosity amongst college students from India in pursuing Grasp’s programs, we’re additionally making an attempt to develop our bachelor’s packages right here.”
Macron’s assertion has led to extra curiosity in India as representatives from 58 French establishments arrived within the nation for the Select France Tour 2024 throughout 5 cities, in comparison with 48 final yr.
France has some glorious universities and affords a variety of programs, that are less expensive than international locations just like the US and the UK
Philippe Maurin, French Consulate in Mumbai
“If you consider finding out overseas, college students will go to the web to search out extra info, however it’s not at all times straightforward to grasp what the colleges are providing,” stated Eloïse Ondet, nationwide coordinator of Campus France India.
“The Select France Tour is an effective alternative for college kids to fulfill with French establishments in-person and talk about what it’s like to review and dwell within the nation.”
The Courses Internationales program, launched in September 2024, is an initiative that goals to deal with language limitations and employment alternatives amongst France-bound Indian college students.
This system has been established for college kids from India with little to no French proficiency.
It permits them to observe a basis yr in France to coach within the French language, with thematic programs related to their discipline of curiosity. Some will be capable of safe scholarships on the program’s finish.
“We had our first consumption this yr, and the scholars are actually glad about this system. The concept of Courses Internationales is that, sure, college students shall be taught French, however they will even have a group to assist with something they want,” stated Ondet.
“It’s a basis yr after which college students can begin with their bachelor program and even pursue it in French as a result of they’ll communicate and perceive it.”
Distinguished establishments throughout France and India have additionally signed agreements in latest weeks to encourage a deeper data trade between the 2 international locations.
École Polytechnique, one of many high French establishments for science and engineering, signed agreements with two main Indian Institutes of Expertise: IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi.
“There’s a mutual degree of curiosity amongst college students and universities in India and France as a result of it encourages not solely pupil mobility but in addition analysis partnerships. We need to hold growing this over the following 20-30 years,” stated Maurin.
Although the outflow of scholars from India to France stays regular, the development is but to emerge the opposite method spherical.
In April 2024, A panel dialogue titled ‘India, place of abilities and innovation’ aimed to discover how French college students could be inspired to pursue trade semesters and internships in India.
The session, which attracted 2000 college students throughout 65 establishments in France, noticed 75% of the taking part college students keen to prioritise India for tutorial {and professional} alternatives.
“It’s nice to have Indian college students in France however we additionally need French college students to come back and examine in India to keep up the tutorial hyperlinks between our two international locations. Perhaps France wants a Select India Tour,” said Charlet.
With worldwide universities establishing campuses in India, French establishments are additionally inspired to ascertain branches right here.
“Attracting a report variety of Indian college students stays the first goal, however a minimum of one French establishment is focused on opening a campus in India,” stated Charlet.
“They are going to, in fact, want the proper funding, and it’s necessary for them to have stability of their selections in a rustic like India.”
In July 2023, India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs introduced that Indians holding a grasp’s diploma or greater from French instructional establishments could be eligible for a five-year validity short-stay Schengen visa.
Although the coverage is predicted to assist 1000-1500 Indian college students, as reported by The PIE, it has not but had its supposed impact.
“We thought we’d be swamped with functions, however that has not been the case. The coverage is aimed toward younger professionals, so we hope the variety of candidates will enhance within the coming years,” stated Sami Bouakaze, deputy head of mission, French Consulate in Mumbai.
In response to Bouakaze, India’s approval fee for all sorts of visas to France stands at 85-90%, indicating minimal refusals, however college students should be higher knowledgeable in regards to the course of.
“We’re doing nice in the case of processing visas for Indian college students, however I believe the issue arises when college students second guess the paperwork they’ve been requested to submit,” stated Bouakaze.
“After we ask for sure paperwork, college students have many questions on them. So if we ask them for doc A, some assume they’ll move off doc E as doc A. We’re mandating sure paperwork as a result of we’d like a whole pupil file.”
The sixth largest host nation for worldwide college students, France’s progress in India shouldn’t be with out its challenges.
“One of many main challenges in France not being recognized as a examine vacation spot in India is as a result of the worth of schooling is low and subsidised by the federal government, the impression turns into that the schooling shouldn’t be of fine high quality,” stated Ondet.
“However it’s fairly the opposite as France has a few of the finest colleges on this planet. In the event you have a look at our nation’s measurement and rankings, we’re doing rather well on the worldwide stage.”
