Since 8 July 2019, the University of Strasbourg has been awarded the "Bienvenue en France"(Welcome to France) label with 3 stars, the maximum number awarded for this label, which rewards the quality of welcome for international students.
On the occasion of the Rencontres Campus France of 8 July 2019, Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, revealed the 25 universities and schools labelled "Bienvenue en France". As an award winner, the University of Strasbourg is thus rewarded for the quality of reception it offers its international students. Each year, it totals about 20% of foreign students, more than 10,000 people for whom the services and components of the University of Strasbourg deploy miscellaneous ways to best accommodate them in their new place of life and studies.
Undertaken by the University of Strasbourg in January 2019, this "Bienvenue en France" labelling initiative was led by Irini Tsamadou-Jacoberger, Vice-Chairperson for International Relations at the University of Strasbourg, and implemented by the International Relations Department with the financial support of the Investments for the future (IdEx) mission: "This label is the culmination of six months of work consisting of identifying all the actions and good practices implemented in the central services and the 36 faculties, schools and institutes to welcome 10,000 international students each year to the University of Strasbourg", explains Irini Tsamadou-Jacoberger. This labelling will strengthen the attractiveness and international visibility of our establishment. It will also enhance the benefits of Unistra in terms of hosting international students, such as the international university house of the University of Strasbourg and the France-Japan university house that participate in the reception and support of all international participants in their new environment. Certainly, it is also a step that will enable our university to continue to develop international mobility and actively participate in the international influence of French higher education. »
Good to know
The "Bienvenue en France" label
The "Bienvenue en France" label is awarded by Campus France to institutions that meet high quality standards in welcoming international students and who are committed to continuous improvement. Awarded for a 4-year period, this label gives institutions a better international visibility. Assessment bears on 4 key factors:
- quality and availability of information;
- quality and availability of reception methods;
- quality and accessibility of the training offer and support with lessons, housing and quality of campus life;
- quality of post-graduate follow-up.
The national "Bienvenue en France" strategy
The "Bienvenue en France" strategy, presented by the Prime Minister in November 2018, was launched to improve the attractiveness of French higher education institutions.
France, the 4th largest host country for international students and the largest non-English speaking country, currently has 324,000 international students. The goal for 2027 is to welcome 500,000 foreign students. The "Bienvenue en France" strategy rests on three pillars:
- differentiated fees for non-EEA students;
- the openness and influence of French higher education abroad;
- the improvement of reception conditions for international students in higher education institutions, including the simplification of visa and residence permit procedures and support before and during their stay in France.
About the University of Strasbourg
More information
As one of the 5 Eucor - The European campus institutions, the University of Strasbourg today welcomes 51,000 students, 20% of whom are international students from 150 nationalities. With its 35 components, 78 laboratories and research units, it is distinguished by the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of its training offer, which covers all disciplines of higher education. This is provided by nearly 2,800 lecturer-researchers, including four Nobel Prize winners and more than 4,500 external lecturers. It pursues research excellence, which is why it is the leading European university for its impact on innovation (Nature Index, 2017) and in the top 150 of the best universities in the world (Shanghai 2018 ranking). In 2016, it was one of the 3 winning universities of the Initiatives of Excellence in the framework of Investments for the Future.
