Erasmus+ Day The French Higher Education System October 4, 2013 Dr. Jacques BAUDIER Scientific and Academic Attache French Embassy in Israel j.baudier@ambfr-il.org
FRANCE A pleasant and satisfying lifestyle For quality of life, France is number 2 in the world - International Living Ranking 2011 Paris is the world s best city for students - Paris tops London and Boston A nation of civil rights under law - Antisemitism is punishable by law The country s health-care system is excellent France offers a pleasant environment - Temperate climate, environmental consciousness, and geographic diversity Agence française pour la promotion de l enseignement supérieur, l accueil et la mobilité internationale
FRANCE A strong economy The world s 5 th largest economy, Europe s 2 nd largest International Monetary Fund IMF, 2011 - The world s 6 th largest exporter of goods - The 5 th largest exporter of services - 35 French firms are among the world s 500 largest - France produces 4% of global GDP - The 4 th largest recipient of foreign direct investment in Europe in 2012, with 25 billion Agence française pour la promotion de l enseignement supérieur, l accueil et la mobilité internationale
FRANCE Sectors of excellence Leading industries - Pharmaceuticals: 1 st in Europe and 3 rd worldwide - Aeronautics: 1 st in Europe - Chemicals: 2 nd in Europe - Agriculture and food processing: 1 st in Europe and 2 nd in the world - Information and communication technology: 3 rd in Europe - Nuclear power: 1 st in Europe Some internationally prominent French firms - Food products: Danone, Yoplait - Fashion and luxury goods: LVMH, Saint-Laurent, Dior, L Oréal - Banking and insurance: BNP, Axa - Automobiles: Peugeot-Citroën, Renault, Michelin - Pharmaceuticals : Sanofi-Aventis - Technology and aeronautics: Thalès, Airbus, Dassault - Air transport: Air France-KLM - Telecommunications: Alcatel-Lucent, Orange - Energy: Total, Areva In 2011: 1.1 million new firms created in France Agence française pour la promotion de l enseignement supérieur, l accueil et la mobilité internationale
French Higher Education 5 Key figures 2 386 901 post-secondary students in France (2012-2013) Universities The Grandes Écoles Specialized schools and institutes Source of map and figures: Ministry of Higher Education and Research (2012 13)
French Higher Education 6 The European degree system 3 steps on the European degree ladder, known as L-M-D : Licence (bachelor) Master Doctorate Each step represents a number of ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System): Licence (L) = 6 semesters = 180 ECTS credits Master (M) = 4 semesters = 120 ECTS credits Doctorate (D) = 3 years after Master
French Higher Education 7 Universities France has 83 public universities The universities provide instruction in all fields of knowledge They enroll 1.4 million students, including 70,000 doctoral candidates The universities confer national diplomas (Licence, Master, Doctorate) Tuition fees are low (about 300 a year) because the government pays much of the true cost of each student s education (from 10,000 to 20,000 per year) SOME PROGRAMS ARE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
French Higher Education 8 The Grandes Écoles Fields Engineering Business (HEC) Professoriat (Écoles Normales Supérieures, ENS) Veterinary and chemistry, agriculture Political science (Instituts d Études Politiques, IEP) Recruitment Admission: entrance exam (+ 2-year preparatory course), Degrees National master s degree ( national diploma ) or equivalent Engineering degree = master s level Intermediate and specialized degree programs MANY PROGRAMS ARE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
French Higher Education 9 Specialized schools and institutes Operating alongside the universities and grandes écoles are more than 3,000 other public and private institutions that offer programs in specific areas. Specialized schools and institutes offer instruction in the health professions, paramedical services, arts, communication, journalism, social work, fashion, design, tourism, culinary arts, military studies, agriculture, agronomy, and political science, among others Programs last for 2 to 5 years Students are admitted by examination or by application
French Higher Education 10 Open to foreign students 2 386 901 postsecondary students in France (2012-2013) 289 274 international students (12,1%) + 90 % since 1998 France is the 3rd most attractive country for foreign students (UNESCO) Source of map and figures: Ministry of Higher Education and Research (2012 13)
French Higher Education 11 International student mobility in France
French Higher Education 12 Students from Israel in France 266 students from Israel in France in September 2012 (77% in universities)
Why promoting academic cooperations between France and Israel? 13 Because It is the right time! Launching of the new Erasmus+ program The academic cooperation recently became a priority of the French and the Israeli governments Extended means, including scholarships, are invested to enhance the cooperation Because France and Israel match pretty well! France and Israel have top-class higher education and research systems France s and Israel s expertises are highly complementary: fundamental science & business in France/high techs and tech transfers in Israel Because Scientists and laboratories of both countries already have a long tradition of collaboration and friendship (Weizmann-Pasteur, 40 years) Because Promoting students exchanges will help the young generations from France and Israel to know and understand each other, and to fight prejudices (amplified by the media in both countries)
How to promote academic cooperations between France and Israel? 14 Academic institutions in France and Israel must overcome prejudices & focus on the benefits of extended collaborations: easier access to EU fundings, Academic institutions must be proactive in looking for partnerships Inspiration can come from success stories The French embassy and its office for science and academic cooperation is here to help you!
15 Sciences Po Cooperations with Israeli Universities Involvement in all the Erasmus Mundus consortia for Israel since 2009 Cooperations with Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, the University of Haifa, IDC Herzliya A large cooperation: Mobilities: students, PhD, Post-doc, staff Joint PhD Programs Joint conferences
16 Ex. Sciences Po Israel cooperation in 2013-2014 48 incoming and 13 outgoing students 6 incoming and 1 outgoing Professors 2 Doctoral workshops with TAU: «Mapping International News and Opinions: From Qualitative Research to Web Mining and Network Analysis», (PhD Workshop, TAU, December 2013) «Boundaries and Nationhood: Discourses and Practices» (PhD Workshop, Sciences Po with TAU, June 2014)