French gov’t looking to bolster student exchange programs, mulls edu-fair in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines – As part of its commitment to strengthen ties between France and the Philippines, the French government is eyeing to bolster its student exchange programs.

These were some of the plans newly appointed France Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel revealed during her visit to Cebu last October 19, 2023.

Speaking to reporters, Fontanel said they wanted to invite more students from the Philippines to study in France, particularly those from Cebu.

“Because it is also a priority of our bilateral cooperation to foster partnerships between French universities and Filipino universities in order to permit exchange Filipinos students to go study in France and French students to come also discover and study in the Philippines,” she explained.

French education fair in Cebu

The French government has been organizing education fairs and partnered with universities nationwide to send Filipino students to pursue higher education abroad.

But as far as the French envoy has learned, only a few came from Cebu.

In turn, they want to establish the first French education fair on the island to provide Cebu-based students and universities the opportunity to link with educational institutions in their country.

“We discussed that also in our meeting with the universities. There is one European Fair Education Fair in Manila and we are only a part of it. It was two weeks or three weeks ago,” said Fontanel.

“I think but yes, I’ve been told that there was none in Cebu so far, and I think we have to work on it. It would be a very good idea to organize one,” she added.

Fontanel was assigned as the newest French envoy in the country. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formally welcomed and accepted her appointment papers in September.

/bmjo

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