French President announces exclusive programme for Indian students

French President announces exclusive programme for Indian students

NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the launch of Classes Internationales (international classes), a special programme for Indian students to learn French for a year in France before pursuing the degree of their choice, during his state visit to India last week, according to press release by the French Embassy in New Delhi.

This initiative is reflected in the joint statement endorsed by President Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 26: “both leaders have agreed to support the initiative of setting up international classes which will enable, from September 2024 onwards, Indian students to be taught French as a foreign language, methodology and academic contents in highly reputed French universities in France during one academic year, before entering their chosen curricula in France.”

The Classes Internationales programme has been designed to help India’s brightest high school graduates access France’s rich, diverse, and world-renowned educational offerings without being limited to English-taught programmes alone, the press release said. Regardless of already being a French language learner or a complete beginner, a student can now be admitted to French-taught undergraduate programmes of French higher education institutions after successfully completing a foundational year of immersive language training at that institution.

During his tour of Amber Fort in Rajasthan, President Macron met Indian students from Alliance Française de Jaipur, the French departments of Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, and alumni back from France after graduation. The President stressed France’s commitment to opening up more opportunities for Indian students, exemplified by initiatives such as Classes Internationales, 5-year short-stay Schengen visa for alumni and the fact that India is now the largest beneficiary of French academic scholarships, the press release said. President Macron reiterated:

“We want to welcome 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030,” and added that, if this goal is met, “I would be the happiest President”.

The key features of new programme for Indian students by France include access to world-renowned French higher education institutions across all fields – universities, grandes écoles, engineering, management, sciences, humanities, arts, and other specialised schools and immersion in French culture and language. The French language classes are tailored to the field of studies chosen by the student, complemented by preparatory courses in the field.

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