Olivier Chiche-Portiche – Campus France marketing Director

 

Olivier is currently the Director of Campus France’s marketing and scholarship Department for the French Higher Education. He co-ordinates of a team of 70 staff in Paris and overseeing the network of Campus France offices throughout the world, marketing events and promotion activities in conjunction with diplomatic posts. He also is in charge of mobility programs throughout the world providing tailored made services to foreign governments and international clients; developing promotion tools for French Higher Institutions.

 

Olivier, thanks for joining Monsuni!

Campus France’s latest native internet campaign focuses also on economic help in favour of university students in need. University fees are already very low in France, so can you help our readers explain the goal of this further investment?

 

Campus France launched the latest worldwide communication campaign “Bienvenue en France” in November 2018 with the aim of reaching 500.000 international students in France by 2027 (340.000 today according to the Ministry of education statistics).

Amongst different measures to reinforce the attractiveness of France as a study destination, improving the welcoming services for international students was a strategic part of this plan. To achieve this objective, public universities were entitled to increase the registration fees up to 2.700€ for international students (vs 270€).

Of course, it can be considered as a huge increase – but still very far from international universities standards – but it is also a condition to improve what was considered as a weakness of the French public system. This axe was implemented alongside tripling the number of scholarships notably for African students (Maghreb and Sub Saharan) and developing programs taught in English. So yes, the universities fees are still very low and their increase means more money to welcome international students in a better way and helping those who could not afford it with more scholarships.

Besides, in addition to the enrolment fees rise, the government is supporting public Higher education institutions with a budget of 10 million euros. This budget has been shared between the institutions, according to the number of non-EU students enrolled in the years 2017/18 and 2018/19. Amongst other things, this should enable new services to be offered:

• Student mentoring schemes, also known as “buddy programmes”, to promote the integration of newly arrived students.
• the development of French as a foreign language (FLE) courses to improve students’ chances of success, including refugee students.
• the foreign languages offering, including not only English courses but also multilingual reception services within institutions.

A single condition must be met to be eligible for the Bienvenue en France funding: to be engaged in the “Bienvenue en France” certification process (Label “Bienvenue en France”)

Campus France is pursuing the implementation of the “Bienvenue en France” quality seal (‘Label’) building on the 120 higher education institutions that have already been recognized as providing top-quality services in the hosting of international students.

Covid 19 pandemic urged the Ministry of Education to give more support and attention to international students, as they are the most fragile people inside the education system. The fact that they could not find any more jobs in a period of lockdown make them more prone to distress and drop out. CNOUS (National university residencies) was able to finance more international students in difficult situations as well as Campus France in the framework of a dedicated social emergency covid plan: exempt rental payment, special assistance grants, university restaurant providing meals for one euro and free visits to psychological structures.

 

With a substantial block of flights during the Pandemic, what selling points Campus France managed to put forward to retain prospective students willing to study in France?

 

During the crisis, France has kept its borders open and has continued to welcome international students. With 370 000 international students in France, the government has made the delivery of visas to this key target group a priority. Following a 25% fall in non-EU students in 2020-2021, applications for the forthcoming academic year are following a positive trend, with a 26% increase compared to one year ago.

Campus France enjoys close collaboration with the French higher education institutions and their conferences, notably within the scope of the Campus France Forum and its 371 member organisations. Over the past 18 months, HEIs have had to move courses and testing online and take additional measures to assist students and staff. Campus France continues to support the promotion and development of online and blended programmes within an inclusive, student-centred, and connected higher education system. With the planned return to on-campus teaching in the fall, Campus France also focuses on ensuring the wellbeing of international students through specific hosting services.

 

Campus France can rely on an extensive overseas network of offices and personnel. How does Campus France choose the countries where to further invest, and where to dismiss?

 

The worldwide Bienvenue en France communication campaign, Campus France’s vast online presence and the network of 259 Campus France offices in 127 countries within the French diplomatic network contribute to increasing France’s international visibility and ensure students stay informed about the latest developments in French higher education. Graduates of French HEIs and the 350 000 members of the France Alumni network also contribute to increasing France’s attractiveness.

In terms of geographical priorities, the Indo-Pacific region is a key focus for forthcoming actions, and Europe and Africa remain important target regions. Campus France is responsible for promoting French offshore and joint campuses as well as the Partnerships with African Higher Education initiative which funds cooperation between French and African institutions. The Agency also supports several European Universities, helping to make them more visible on the international stage.

Every time France has a diplomatic representation worldwide, settling a Campus France office in an Institut Français or Alliance Française is possible. Of course, it has to comply with a specific chart and the size or number of offices depend on geo-strategic French policy and strong student’s mobility flows (Maghreb, Africa, EU, China, India, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Russia).

Between 60 staff in China and a Campus France corner in Alliance Française in a small country, the situation varies a lot but there is the same objective: strong training for CF staff, equipment and promotion support to be widely provided before in order to give the same local quality of services in the country we serve and find always someone to answer the questions of students willing to study in France.

As far as I know and obviously for reasons of war or danger, there are no countries where Campus France needed to be closed.