French prestigious Ecole Polytechnique strengthens ties with Indian Institutes, focuses on research and student exchange

New Delhi (India), October 11 : In a bid to deepen academic and research partnerships, France's prestigious Ecole Polytechnique is expanding its collaboration with Indian institutions through student exchange programs.
Laura Chaubard, Director General of Ecole Polytechnique, is in India on a one-week visit to discuss ways to boost student mobility between the two nations.
The institute has signed agreements with IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi on student exchange.
"We are thrilled to welcome Indian students to our bachelor and master programs. This agreement also opens the door for our French and international students to spend time at IIT Bombay," she said.
Currently, around 80 Indian students studying at the institute.
Chaubard seeks to doubling this number in the coming years, while banking on deeper historical ties between India and France.
During PM Narendra Modi's visit in July 2023, it was agreed to increase the number of Indian students in France to 30,000 by 2030. It is estimated that there are about 10000 Indian students in France.
On the research front, Chaubard emphasized the common values shared by Ecole Polytechnique and Indian institutions, particularly in research-oriented education and connections to industry.
While there are no immediate plans to establish a center in India, Chaubard mentioned ongoing discussions with IISc Bangalore about future collaborations, including joint PhD supervisions and possibly double degrees. "We have agreed to organize a faculty seminar to foster deeper connections between our faculty members," she added.
Regarding funding opportunities for Indian students, Chaubard pointed out that Ecole Polytechnique, along with national-level initiatives in France, offers a variety of scholarships and funding programs. "Indian students have a lot of potential, and we have mechanisms in place to support them based on excellence," she noted.
Chaubard also emphasized the broader strategic goals of strengthening ties between India and France, citing President Macron's roadmap for bolstering partnerships in education. "India's ecosystem of innovation and higher education, particularly in Bangalore, aligns well with our institution's values, and we see tremendous potential in expanding these collaborations."
As part of her visit, Chaubard hopes to build on existing success stories of Indian alumni and expand the scope of student exchanges and research initiatives. "Our goal is to strengthen links and give institutional frameworks to ongoing research collaborations, ensuring that we build a bright future together," she concluded.
In recent years, France has taken several measuires to draw more Indian students, including English medium courses for non-French speaking foreign students and relaxed visa-regimes are expected to draw more students in the coming years.
An agreement on mutual recognition of degrees was signed in 2018 to facilitate pursuit of higher education by Indian students in France and French students in India and increase their employability.