To increase student and faculty engagement in France, the Office of International Programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) hosted a delegation from the Consulate General of France’s Chicago office on January 24.

The delegation met with faculty and staff from ACES and the University of Illinois, including representatives from education abroad and international centers, to make personal connections that will facilitate additional student and faculty exchanges.   

The visiting delegation included:

• Guillaume Lacroix, Consul Général of France in Chicago
• Prof. James Dat, Attaché for Science and Technology
• Mégane Chesné, Deputy Attaché for Science and Technology

“It is pointless to stay in our office. You can, of course, contact us with visa and other issues, but it’s best to get to know each other before there is a problem,” said Lacroix about the value of visiting the campus to meet students and faculty in person.

France welcomes students from English-speaking world

A highlight of the visit was the delegation’s presentation on student mobility opportunities with the goal of attracting more Illinois students to study and intern in France.

 “French researchers have funds to host students and colleagues. Our office is here to assist. We may not have all the answers, but we can direct you to the right person,” Lacroix said.

“France is attempting to be more connected with the English-speaking world, and speaking French is no longer a requirement to study in France. Many programs are now offered in English,” he said.

To make getting to France easier, starting in 2019, travelers can acquire visas directly online from the Consulate General’s website (see below). “You can always visit for less than three months, but for longer than three months you need to find a host institution,” LaCroix clarified.

Also coming soon is an online resource for finding student housing in Paris.

However, Dat encouraged students to “think outside of Paris” for more opportunities for study and housing. “Paris is not the only great place in France,” he said. “For example, Burgundy is a 1.5 hour train ride away, and there are 10 trains per day. You can have a larger apartment and visit Paris on weekends.”

The delegation noted it is important to find the best partners for Illinois in France for certain subjects of study. They were specifically impressed to learn about ACES’ programs in food science and foresee meaningful partnerships in that area.

The College of ACES and the Office of International Programs look forward to building on this visit with substantive future interactions. 

Resources for Students

• The Campus France USA Homepage provides information on student programs, scholarships, and grants for U.S. students.
• ACES Education Abroad is currently promoting several study abroad opportunities in France for summer 2019.
• The Institute for Field Education offers semester-long study abroad programs in France and Belgium including internship and research opportunities tailored to student interests.

Resources for All

• A variety of opportunities for research, science, and cultural education programs in France are on the Office of International Programs website.
• For more information on obtaining a visa to travel to France as well as other opportunities in France, visit the Consulate General’s website at: https://chicago.consulfrance.org/