France to triple Indian student intake

Inaugurating a new building of the Consulate General of France on Saturday, Pecresse, who was part of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s entourage, said the “dramatic increase” was formulated in consultations with the heads of several Grandes Ecoles and French universities that have come to Bangalore.

Currently, 1,700 students enroll in French universities each year and France is looking at increasing their number to 4,500. “To do that, we will encourage partnerships between French and Indian establishments,” she said. Students can also avail of the Campus France services started by the Consulate to provide information on higher education in France.

Pecresse said tuition fee in most French universities was low, but she admitted that there were difficulties for Indian to work in France after their studies. The issue will be taken by the Sarkozy government, she added.

The Minister also announced creation of an attaché for science and technology within the consulate to support Indian scientists who want to work in France in their administrative procedures.

She recalled the partnership between the French higher education and research establishments and the Indian Institution of Science.

The consulate will also house ‘Ubifrance’, to facilitate relations between Indian businessmen and French entrepreneurs. The Consulate General of France will function from its new office on Palace Road opposite Mount Carmel College. Consul General Dominique Causse said the current office at Alliance Francaise will be relocated after a few weeks.