His Excellency, Mr. Jawed Ashraf, the Indian Ambassador to France and Monaco, visited the De Vinci Higher Education campus, marking a significant moment in bilateral educational cooperation between India and France.
The Indian Ambassador’s presence at the Institute of Future Technologies’ Festival of Learning not only added prestige to the event but also emphasized the importance of fostering collaborative efforts in scientific and technological advancements.
Strengthening the ties between Indian and French academic institutions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron’s shared vision for enhancing student exchanges and educational cooperation provided the backdrop for Ambassador Ashraf’s discussions.
Accompanied by Mr. Madhav R Sulphule, First Secretary of the Indian Embassy, His Excellency’s visit emphasized the growing ties between the two nations in education and technology. During his interaction with Pascal Brouaye, President of De Vinci Higher Education, discussions centred around the burgeoning India-France bilateral educational partnership, which has witnessed remarkable growth recently.
Both leaders have expressed a keen interest in expanding collaboration, particularly in engineering and applied sciences, reflecting a commitment to strengthening ties between Indian and French academic institutions.
Visited @poledevinci, near Paris, a young university with innovative curriculum and eye to the future.
Saw great innovation by students at the Festival of Future Technologies.Spoke about the ambitions of 🇮🇳🇫🇷 partnership in the digital age.
Strong presence of Indian students. pic.twitter.com/TNJopnkvel
— Jawed Ashraf (@JawedAshraf5) March 9, 2024
A message to Indian and international students
Addressing a gathering of Indian and international students at the amphitheater, His Excellency commended them for pursuing their academic endeavours in a dynamic environment like De Vinci Higher Education.
He encouraged them to be ambassadors of bilateral relations between France and India, highlighting the enduring partnership rooted in democratic values, multilateralism, and respect for international law.
India: a strategic market to France
Ambassador Ashraf reflected on significant milestones in 2023, including celebrating the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France. The adoption of ‘Horizon 2047,’ a roadmap delineating the trajectory for the next 25 years, demonstrates the commitment of both nations to furthering cooperation across various domains. Cultural exchanges, exemplified by the ‘Namaste France’ festival in Paris, have played a pivotal role in fostering mutual understanding and appreciation.
In addition to emphasizing the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, His Excellency underscored the need for students to embrace the French language and culture. As France views India as a strategic market, proficiency in French could pave the way for enhanced business opportunities, joint ventures, and technology collaborations.
His Excellency, Mr. Jawed Ashraf, the Indian Ambassador to France and Monaco and the De Vinci Higher Education Team
Facilitating an exchange of ideas and perspectives with students
The visit concluded with a lively interaction between Ambassador Ashraf and the students, facilitating an exchange of ideas and perspectives. Such engagements are anticipated to bolster the academic collaboration between India and France and inspire more Indian students to pursue higher education opportunities in France, particularly at esteemed institutions like ESILV and EMLV.
As the seeds of collaboration continue to be sown, the visit of Ambassador Jawed Ashraf serves as a testament to the enduring partnership between India and France, poised to flourish in the years to come.
