Study Abroad Guide-GECS India

University cooperation between France and India started in the 1980s, when the first interuniversity agreements were signed. In 2007, with a  separate Education Exchange Programme being signed for the first time, things took off in a major way. And during the French President, M Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to India in January 2008, the Indo-French Consortium of Universities (IFCU) was formed.

“Behind university cooperation there is actually the desire to form a pool of Indians who’ve been to France, who know France, have some kind of taste for the country and its culture, who can be ambassadors of France in India,” says Philippe Martinet, counsellor for culture and cooperation, French Embassy, Delhi. With this in mind, academicians from more than 25 French universities recently came together under the IFCU at an event in Shillong.

In order to make this kind of collaboration successful there has to be increased student mobility. On account of this the consortium is working towards structured agreements that allow Indian students to go to France to study and spend a sufficiently long time there. Then they come back with a degree that is recognised in India. “This recognition is fundamental, as students would no doubt want their investments carry adequate returns,” adds Martinet.

The consortium’s main objective is to promote and encourage the creation of dual degrees, along with PhDs and co-guidance. In addition, it will also be promoting language training and cultural exchange as part of these programmes. Margret Decors, director (international relations), who teaches French at Universite de Technologie, Troyes, says,

“It is convenient if Indian students come to France with a basic knowledge of French. That will not only help them cope with the initial pressure but also make it easier for them to find their bearings in a new country.”

NEW RELATIONSHIPS
Among other initiatives, Delhi University (DU) signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs); one with Universite Joseph Fourier, Grenoble I for a dual Master’s degree in nuclear engineering and sustainable development, and the other with Ecole Centrale de Nantes for a Master’s in robotics. This adds to the five MoUs that have already been signed between Indian and French universities.

Farid Quabdesselam, president, Universite Joseph Fourier, classified the relationship between the two countries into three points. First, the research-based cooperation that entails joint research between French and Indian teams with co-publictions, etc. Second, the exchange of PhD students. And third, the jointly supervised thesis where you have two supervisors — one in India and another in France.

DUAL DEGREES
After these three come the dual degrees. Under these, an Indian student has to enrol for a three-year course. He or she spends two years in India and goes to France for the third year. Once the course is completed, the student is awarded two degrees — one from DU and another from the French university. As a result, not only is the student more marketable, he/she also has the opportunity to enter a PhD programme in France. According to R K Shivpuri, director, Centre for Detector and Related Software Technology, Department of Physics and Astrophysics, DU, the first batch of students under the dual degree programme will be going to France in 2009.

OPTIONS GALORE
Claude Moreau, attaché for science and technology, French Embassy, Mumbai, referred to another option for PhD students in India. For instance, one can stay in India and be a registered student. Yet, there may come a point where his or her supervisor may feel that a particular aspect of the PhD could be better dealt with at a particular French university. In that case, the student goes to France, works there and comes back to be awarded an Indian doctorate degree.

A concept that is high on the consortium priority list is the Cyber University, where professors from both countries will offer complementary courses on the internet.

Renaud Rhim, deputy director, international relations and cooperation, ministry of higher education and research in France, adds, “The Indo-French collaboration is sure to have a great future. Apart from the cultural exposure, it will be a meaningful experience for a student to be in France and be part of its economy.”

Apart from the Indo-French consortium, an International Forum on Higher Education was also organised. The forum saw participation from France, UK, Australia, Serbia, Bangladesh and the European Union. Both the events were part of the annual meet of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and over 50 Indian universities participated.

Source: Times of India 25 Nov 2008