Jean-Marc Ayrault lance France Alumni USA
Soirée de lancement France Alumni USA à New York

On Wednesday, September 21, 350 students, alumni, university representatives, CEOs, and high-ranking France Alumni professionals gathered at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in New York for the launch of France Alumni USA by Jean-Marc Ayrault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development. In his speech, the Minister stated that France is proud to be the country that welcomes the third largest number of study abroad students worldwide—and the non-anglophone country that welcomes the largest number of students worldwide. He added that welcoming international students is an opportunity for France: the 300,000 international students who come to the country each year discover education à la française, inherited from intellectual luminaries and masters of critical thought.

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development © Samuel Tribollet

He explained that the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development judged it very important to create a network of students who studied in France, to enable them to stay in touch with France; its language and culture; their host university; and the friends they made in France. France Alumni network today empowers France to create a strong and long-lasting bond with these students. Read the Minister's full speech here. 

Katherine Fleming, New York University Provost; Slawomir Krupa, CEO of Société générale Americas; and Joseph Nelson, an alum of George Washington University who received a scholarship from the French Embassy for a study tour in France—shared their experience of studying abroad in France. Each emphasized the importance of France Alumni USA—the new online platform and network for students and professionals who completed part or all of their studies in France—to stay bonded with a network of colleagues and peers.

About France Alumni USA

Each year, nearly 300,000 foreign students pursue their studies in France. France Alumni, established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, is aimed at helping them remain in touch with France after their studies. This platform, set up and operated by Campus France, the French national agency for the promotion of higher education, international student services, and international mobility, connects a community of more than 30,000 alumni from around the world with new members joining daily.

France Alumni USA, the local online platform dedicated to American residents who have completed part or all of their studies in France, does not only connect alumni currently living in the United States with each other, but also enables them to maintain a connection to the French language and culture, and to access employment and internship opportunities that will leverage their time in France to foster international careers. This new platform is also a tremendous opportunity for alumni to connect and work hand in hand with other transatlantic leaders in order to catalyze international partnerships among French and local companies, universities and cultural institutions.

To watch the launch of France Alumni USA: http://livestream.com/frenchembassy/events/6356851

Katherine Fleming, New York University Provost

Slawomir Krupa, CEO of Société générale Americas © Samuel Tribollet

Joseph Nelson, George Washington University Alum and French Embassy Scholarship Recipient

CUNY Representatives

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy extend their sincere thanks to the sponsors and partners of the launch event: Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute, The Felix Lemerle Jazz band La Maison du Chocolat, Lacoste, Palais des thés, Pommery, l’Occitane and Megan Pettley, graphic designer.