French Prez Macron Allures Indian Students To Study In France
French president Emmanuel Macron, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade this year, announced plans today to attract more Indian students to study in France. He claimed that France has a bold target of hosting more than 30,000 Indian students by 2030.
Macron also said that France will support the students who do not speak French as they would be able to access French universities through the creation of foreign classrooms.
"We are developing the network of Alliances francaises, with new centres to learn French. We are creating international classes which will allow students, who do not necessarily speak French, to join our universities," Macron said.
"Last but not least, we will facilitate the visa process for any former Indian students who studied in France," the French President added.
Last year, Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France said that Indian students who want to go to France for higher studies sometimes encounter visa-related problems. But this may not be an issue anymore as France is ready to welcome the students, he added.
Mathou said that President Emmanuel Macron has expressed that France is ready to welcome 30,000 Indian students within its higher institutions by 2030.
During a conversation with IANS, French Ambassador Thierry Mathou also discussed the recent measures regarding the five-year short-stay Schengen visa. He added that France thinks that when an Indian student spends even just a semester in France, it creates a bond that should be nurtured and valued.
Since last year, Indian students who have a Master’s degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a five-year short-stay Schengen visa. This is a special provision for Indian alumni to enable them to maintain close ties with France and their French counterparts.
