Choose France Tour 2023 draws good response

In continuation of the mutual commitment to strengthen people-to-people ties, the French government organized its educational initiative, Choose France Tour 2023, in Kolkata. This event coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit as the chief guest for France’s National Day on July 14 and is being held in the presence of Mr. Didier Talpain, Consul General of France in Kolkata.

The Choose France Tour offers a wide range of subjects where Indian students can consider pursuing their higher studies. This initiative, which aligns with the French government’s ambitious goal to host 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030, has attracted participation from as many as 50 French educational institutions, including universities, Grandes Ecoles, and colleges.

This year the Choose France Tour is taking place from October 8 to October 15 in Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Mumbai. This event is being organized by the French Institute in India (l’InstitutFrançaisen Inde), the educational, cultural, and scientific wing of the Embassy of France in India, in collaboration with Campus France, a French government sector organization. Additionally, it is being supported by Alliance Française.

Mr. Didier Talpain said, “Our President Macron expects 30,000 Indian students to study in France by 2030. Currently, the number is less than 10,000 so we need to triple the number. ‘Choose France Tour 2023’ is a positive step towards our president’s vision. We already have about 900 student attendance in Chennai and expecting an attendance of 1500 to 2000 students in Kolkata. I would like to tell the students that there are various grants from the French government in the field of education and since the French government bears most of the expenses of the public educational institutions, higher education in France will also be advantageous from the economic point of view”.

Speaking about the Tour, Mr Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Country Director, The French Institute in India, said, “Apart from the fact that France and India have an agreement for the Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications, which eases admissions in each other’s institutions, President Macron has also announced an ambitious goal of welcoming 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030. Welcoming Indian students to our academic institutions will lay the foundation for cultural comprehension and lifelong friendship between our two nations. Besides, it will also enrich our classrooms with diverse perspectives.”He added: “In addition to boosting student exchanges, the fairs will also help Indian students explore practical ways for seeking job opportunities in France after graduating there.”

In August, France announced new initiatives that not only included the 30,000-student target but also encompassed the creation of ‘international French classes’ and the introduction of a ‘5-year validity short-stay visa for Indian Alumni. Non-Francophone students choosing to study in France will be able to learn French before their course if needed through international French classes, facilitating Indian students’ success in their studies and seamless adaptation to the French education system. Furthermore, Indian students holding a Master’s degree or higher will be eligible for a 5-year validity short-stay Schengen visa after completing their first semester.

Students can explore courses of their choice in fields such as management, engineering, hospitality, humanities, arts, architecture, and design, totalling around 1,700 programs delivered in English. They will have the opportunity to benefit from free counselling sessions provided by Campus France staff and gather information about scholarships, visa opportunities, and student life in France. Indian alumni who have studied in France will also be available to offer candid insights into their experiences as students in France. Additionally, students will receive support through favourable employment policies during their studies and after graduation.

Moreover, students can visit over 40,000 monuments and protected sites, 41 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 8,000 museums, and nearly 500 festivals.

In addition to students, Indian and French educators will explore potential collaborations during the tour.

The Schedule is as follows:

Participating institutes:

Management and Business: Burgundy School of Business, EM Strasbourg Business School, ESSEC Business School, TBS Education, Grenoble Ecole De Management, EDHEC BUSINESS SCHOOL, ESSCA School of Management, EXCELIA, KEDGE Business School, South Champagne Business School – Y SCHOOLS, ESDES – Business school of University Catholic of Lyon, IESEG School of Management, EM Normandie Business School, ICD Business School, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, Montpellier Business School, NEOMA Business School, ICN Business School, Skema Business School, ESCE, EM Lyon, Audencia Business School

Engineering: IMT ATLANTIQUE, CENTRALE NANTES, JUNIA HEI, ISEN Grande école d’ingénieurs, IPSA – Graduate School of Engineering specialized in Air, Space and Sustainable Mobility, IMT Nord Europe, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA TOULOUSE, ISEP, EURECOM, Centrale Méditerranée, ESTP – École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l’Industrie, CESI Graduate School of Engineering, De Vinci Higher Education, ESIGELEC, ISAE-SUPAERO, École Polytechnique

Public Universities : Université de Lille, IAE Aix Marseille, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, Université Grenoble Alpes, Sciences Po

Art and Design : Ecole Conte, Ecole Supérieure de la Production de la Mode et du Luxe – ESPML ; EICAR

Gastronomy and Hospitality: Ecole Ducasse, TFHST

French Language School: Cavilam

Choose France Tour’s Partners: Campus France, France Alumni, Alliance Française in India, ICICI Bank