2024 registers impressive increase in number of Pakistani students leaving for French universities: Galey
For the third year in a row, a phenomenal growth has been witnessed in the number of the Pakistani students heading to various French universities and colleges in a variety of disciplines thus realizing their dreams of success in a world full of opportunities and with immensely supportive environment.
This was shared by Ambassador of France, Nicolas Galey during a briefing titled ‘Choose France 3’ hosted at his residence here Friday.
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, RanaMashhood Ahmed Khan also attended the event briefly and welcome the French-Pakistan collaboration in education. Prime Minister’s Youth Programme he said was committed to fostering youth engagement and “we look forward to establishing fruitful education collaboration with your country, Excellency,” he said while thanking the ambassador of France.
The event organized jointly by the ‘Campus France’ highlighted key initiatives and partnerships between France and Pakistan in the field of higher education and discussed in details the various aspects of education programmes that suit the Pakistani students and enhance their talent.
A panel discussion featuring eminent French and Pakistani participants—Vice-President International Relations, Université Paris EstCréteil, Mr Laurent Thevenet; Higher Education and Scientific attaché at the French Embassy, Ms Sabine Vermillard; Professor and Head of International Office, Fast-NU Lahore, MrWaqarBaig; Deputy Director Asia Unit, Campus France, Mr Ivan Rakocevic and Alumni, Campus France Officer Lahore, MsJaveriaJawaid—was also part of the briefing and the participants replied to the questions of the media persons.
They also addressed the ‘language’ barrier issue as is perceived by many a big challenge and told that 1700 plus programmes were taught in English and they were officially recognized by the French government. Besides, more than 130 scholarships are available for the Pakistani students, the panelsists told adding that easy and quick visa process was also a key factor in this impressive increase of the Pakistani students and the French embassy deserved praise for that.
Sabine, the moderator of the panel discussion, said the number of the Pakistani students, who chose France as their academic destination in 2024, went as high as 1400 as compared to 400 in 2023 and even 200 in 2022.
This response is overwhelming and we are keen to have more students in the coming years, she said.
Ambassador Galey also welcomed this trend saying the figures show impressive increase in the number of the Pakistani students who are heading to the French universities. He noted it was not only because of the world’s top-ranking universities in France but also because the French government had taken education friendly policies for the French as well as the foreign students. The government of France, for instance, supports part of the tuition fees which helps keep education expenses reasonable without compromising on quality. For the students there is compulsory and free health insurance besides assistance with rent and accommodation, he said.
There are other benefits also like affordable transportation packages (train lines) and there are 450 university restaurants where the students can get 1 meal for merely 3.25 euros (less than PKR1,000).
Besides, Pakistani students are the first contingent worldwide in Erasmus Mundus Programmes (189 students) and France is the first country to welcome 43 of them, it was further told.
