Education abroad has increasingly become an important factor for French university graduates seeking to stand out in the employment market, especially with the expansion of the European Union. English is now effectively the business language of Europe.
Best prospects within this sector include: intensive “American” English language training programs (summer programs for students or adults); programs in business administration; one-year university programs for French high-school graduates (post-baccalaureate) usually between graduation and entry into French university; secondary boarding schools; work/study programs (internships); academic summer camps; and undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Opportunities
Opportunities exist for U.S. schools wishing to expand their enrollment of French students. A select number of undergraduate and graduate students prefer to go abroad to expand their university and post-graduate training and experience. For the academic year 2006-2007, they were 6,704 students from France studying in the USA (up 1% from the previous year). France is the eighteenth leading place of origin for international students in the United States. Opportunities for U.S. schools are expected to continue growing due to the favorable view of the French toward studies in the United States. American educational institutions should increase their efforts to promote their programs in France. There is an increased competition from other markets – Australia, U.K. South Africa, New Zealand, other EU countries, due to the ease of the application process and the perception of saving money.
Resources
Official organization: Fulbright Commission, [http://www.fulbright-france.org]
EDUCATION IN FRANCE
Summary
This report summarizes the French system of higher learning and the market for academic studies abroad, particularly the possibility of study in the United States. The U.S. presents more higher education opportunities than any other nation. According to a report prepared in 2004 by Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University, 170 of the world’s top 500 universities are located in the United States ¾ more than four times as many as any other nation ¾ including among them schools of law, business, physical sciences, social sciences, and liberal arts.
From 2002 to 2004 (the most recent year for which data exists), the number of French students decreased by about 3% per year, despite currency exchange rates that over the past four years have been increasingly favorable for European residents visiting the United States. The use of English as a universal language of business in Europe, and the increasingly competitive French business environment as a result of European Union enlargement and national deregulation, has led to many French students attending business schools in the U.S. Opportunities may exist for U.S. Universities in other fields of studies such as American and international law schools that are more and more in demand by law firms and corporate legal departments. While post-graduate studies remain a common reason for students to attend American institutes, more French undergraduates could take advantage of programs offered in the U.S. the same way students from neighboring countries may do.
French Education Overview
Education in France is standardized nationwide under a frame set by the Ministry of National Education, Higher Learning, and Research (Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche), which has existed with most of its present functions under various names since 1828.
French children between the ages of 3 and 10 attend the écoles (elementary schools), with attendance being mandatory from age 6 on. Students aged from 11 to 14 receive secondary instruction in the collèges (junior high schools) and from 15 to 17 at the lycées (high schools). From there, students wishing to continue their education in France go on to the universités, or to preparatory classes for the entry exams of the grandes écoles (prestigious institutes of learning).
For data tables and additional information corresponding to this prospect please contact Valerie.Ferriere@mail.doc.gov
Over the course of several centuries, France has built a solid, but complex system of higher education. There are 108 institutes of higher learning in France, of which the vast majority are state owned and state run; in the cases of Universities and many of the most prestigious engineering schools “grandes ecoles d’ingenieurs” as well as the school of government [political science institutes and school of national administration (ENA)]. Some of the best state run schools like Polytechnique and ENA are paying a small salary to the students who are considered as the elite so they can cover their cost of living. For studies in law and health/medical fields, only state owned and run universities are offering these cursus WITH SMALL ANNUAL TUITION FEES NOT EXEEDING usd 1000. For the best business schools and professional schools, most of them are run and owned by local Chambers of Commerce and Industries or professional industry associations and tuitions range between USD 5 to USD 7 thousands per year. Another group of engineering, business and professional graduate schools are purely privately owned and run.
Figuring prominently in French higher education are the grandes écoles and grands établissements, all of which are publicly funded. These prestigious schools have produced most of France’s Nobel Laureates, politicians, and business leaders.
According to a study completed by the French Ministry of Education in 2002, 77% of French students abroad are studying in a European country. This proximity gives them the advantages of rapid travel and freedom of movement between their school and their home country. Only 13% are choosing the United States, while 8% study in the U.S.’s bilingual neighbor, Canada. French students abroad, by host country
Besides distance, the government subsidization of higher education in France is another one of the major barriers to expanding the market for study overseas. Most public universités and grandes écoles charge an annual tuition of under €1200 ($1500), and some are nearly free. Because of this, most French lycéens (high-school students), particularly in the middle class and working classes, choose to continue their education at a French university.
Cracks in the French Higher Learning System
Despite the generally solid results of the public higher education system, under funding of schools and vast inequalities of funding are present. In France, the “grandes écoles”, which set a high bar to enrollment, get a major share of public funding, while the universities receive much less. A report published in 2004 by French economists Philippe Aghion and Élie Cohen draws a connection between France’s slowing economic growth and its funding on education, which is considerably lower than in other developed countries. For example, France spends 1.1% of its GDP on higher learning, while the United States spends 2.3%.
Meanwhile, the majority of universités have become more crowded, owing to the lack of entrance requirements (to receive higher learning funded by the state, all that is necessary is a two-year degree which more than half of students attain). The quality of these schools has suffered as a result; a baccalauréat degree from one of them is no guarantee of a good job. The extremely competitive demands of the prestigious French higher education schools, “grandes écoles”, that produce most of France’s social elite, on the other hand, require full-time students to take two years of preparatory classes, “classes préparatoires”, for the entrance exams. These “classes préparatoires” require a course load of 30-40 hours a week plus an additional 30-40 hours a week of home work, along with frequent testing.
Therefore, French graduates of the lycées possessing the wherewithal to enroll in an American school may find in a near future that they may have an easier time getting into one of America’s top 100 universities than in one of France’s grandes écoles, along with receiving all the benefits accorded by studying in a new cultural environment, and in the United States in particular. The funding aspect remains the major barrier to overcome.
Students of the World Coming to the U.S.
More than 565,000 international students came to the United States to study in the 2004-2005 academic year, according to the annual Open Doors report. The top four countries sending students to the U.S. are all in Asia; enrollments from most European countries were down slightly from the previous year. The September 11 attacks have made the issuing of student visas a longer process; American tuition costs continue to increase; and institutes in Europe, China, and Australia have stepped up efforts to attract students from India and Southeast Asia (where rapid economic growth is producing a boom in young people able to attend universities) as well as local students who would otherwise travel abroad for their studies.
On the other hand, America’s top schools continue to possess a level of respect and name recognition unparalleled anywhere else in the world – 39 of the top 50 schools on Jiao Tong University’s list are American – and with the favorably low dollar, average tuition costs at private U.S. universities for those students whose bank accounts are measured in euros actually decreased by over 6% from 2002 to 2006. What’s more, U.S. universities offer opportunities that French students looking for a place to study can find nowhere else.
Legal Studies in the United States
Foremost among these opportunities is a thorough education in U.S. law. The United States remains the largest economic and political actor on the world’s stage, and with the increasing connectivity of the world, every country needs experts able to navigate the U.S. legal system, whether they work in international trade, law enforcement, immigration, government foreign policy, finance, human rights, or intellectual property. While some French comparative-law schools offer a single general course in American law, only study in the U.S. affords students a comprehensive range of courses in the subject, additionally giving them access to vast libraries on American law and the expertise of multiple faculty members well-versed in the legal workings of the United States. With the increasingly close European Union emerging as a major international political and economic force approaching the influence of the United States, graduates with education in both U.S. and E.U. law have advantages when applying for any position regarding trans-Atlantic relations.
France is the world’s sixth largest economy, about one-fifth that of the United States, France was our ninth largest trading partner, accounting for USD 46.7 billion of U.S. exports of goods, services and income receipts in 2004, as reported in U.S. Department of Commerce data. France is a member of the G-8, the European Union, the World Trade Organization and the OECD, confirming its status as a leading economic player in the world. Large French companies and their sub-contractors are increasingly taking advantage of the globalization and law firms involved in international transactions, including many branches of large U.S. law firms which are expanding by providing related legal services, thus calling for qualified graduate students with international and U.S. corporate law proven expertise.
Business Studies in the United States
An MBA from an American school is one of the most attractive diplomas for a business student anywhere in the world to receive, and sure to catch the attention of any employer seeking high-end young workers for a position in the world of commerce. Owing to the United States’ position as a global economic leader and its reputation for schools that produce leaders of industry, more students come to the U.S. for a degree in business than in any other field.
Business studies in the U.S. cover every imaginable range, including business management, finance, accounting, and marketing. Because of the flexibility of courses in most American universities, students have many options when it comes to deciding which fields to pursue. They can focus their studies in a single area, increase their career opportunities by focusing on two, or can even take classes in all of them.
The English Edge
While the largest universities in the U.S. are often attractive to graduates, studying in the United States as undergraduates allows students to hone English skills that give them more options for graduate school; they can return to their home country, study in the U.K., Canada, or Australia, or remain in the U.S. Establishing a presence in the U.S. earlier in their education also allows them to make American business contacts, which can be helpful when it comes time to search for a job.
In France, secondary schools require a class in a foreign language, and English is the most commonly taught. Instruction can give students a good basic understanding of grammar and vocabulary, but nothing can replace cultural immersion as part of the process of learning a language. Since fluency in English is a strong point on any French graduate’s résumé, attending school in the United States is a valuable way to continue learning a language whose study had begun from a younger age. The ability to speak and write English well opens up new doors of possibility, not just for those whose job requires interaction with American, British, Canadian, and Australian clients and partners, but also with their counterparts in almost every country in the world (especially emerging markets in Asia and Eastern Europe), as English is an international second language.
Student Visas
To travel to the United States as a full-time student, it is necessary to obtain a student visa after being accepted into an American school. There are three types of visas issued by the state department for students: The “F visa” is the one given for academic study or research. French students (as well as those from many other countries) need an in-person interview by appointment with an American Consular officer. During the busy summer months, most appointments must be made at least three weeks in advance. The U.S. Embassy in France strongly advises students to apply for their visa and schedule an interview well in advance of their departure. The student must be able to demonstrate that he or she can pay for living expenses and tuition and has been accepted into the school in question. The Embassy’s website has more information on which documents are needed for traveling to the U.S.
Major contacts
Ministère de l’Education Nationale, de l’Enseignement Supérieur
et
de la Recherche
110, rue de Grenelle
75357 Paris SP 07
Tel: (33) (1) 55 55 10 10
www.education.gouv.fr
Fulbright Commission
9, rue Chardin
75116 Paris
Tel: (33) (1) 44 14 53 60
Contact: Arnaud Roujou de Boubée, Executive Director
e-mail: aroujou@fulbright-france.org
Céline Ouziel, Deputy Director
e-mail: ouziel@fulbright-france.org
www.fulbright-france.org
L’Etudiant
L'Etudiant, a large press group, is editing several publications
on the French education system
(but in French). They are also organizing the biggest educational
trade fair in France "Le Salon de l'Etudiant", every year, in
March and November.
27, rue du Chemin Vert
75011 Paris
Tel: (33-1) 48 07 41 41
Fax: (33-1) 48 07 02 92
Contact: Ms. Camille Rabehanta, Sales Coordinator
e-mail: Camille.rabehanta@letudiant.fr ,
Stéphanie Romano, International Studies Fair Manager
e-mail: Stephanie.romano@letudiant.fr
www.letudiant.fr
Major Events
Forum Studyrama Maters & MBAs – Paris
Date: September 9, 2006
Location: Paris - Porte de Champeret
Website: http://www.studyrama.com
World MBA Tour Paris
Date: October 2007
Location: Hotel Concorde-Lafayette
Website: http://www.topmba.com
Salon Studyrama des Formations et des Carrieres
Internationales
Date: Octobre 2007
Location: Paris - Cite Internationale Universitaire
Website: http://www.studyrama.com/salons
Salon de l’Etudiant des Formations Internationales –
Date: January 2008
Location: Paris – Porte de Versailles
Website: http://www.letudiant.fr
Expolangues
Date: January 2008
Location: Paris – Porte de Versailles
Website: http://www.expolangues.fr
Salon de l’Education
Date: November 2007
location: Paris – Porte de Versailles
Website: http://www.salon-education.org/
For More Information
The U.S. Commercial Service in Paris, France can be contacted via e-mail at: Valerie.Ferriere@mail.doc.gov ; Phone: (33) (1) 43 12 27 70 Fax: (33) (1) 43 12 21 72 or visit our website: www.buyusa.gov/your_office.
The U.S. Commercial Service — Your Global Business Partner
With its network of offices across the United States and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://www.export.gov/.
Education Services
Best Products/Services
Education abroad has increasingly become important for French
university graduates seeking to stand out in the employment
market, especially with the expansion of the European
Union. English is now effectively the business language of
Europe.
Best prospects within this sector include: intensive “American”
English language training programs (summer programs for students
or adults); programs in business administration; one-year
university programs for French high-school graduates
(post-baccalaureate), usually between graduation and entry into
French university; secondary boarding schools; work/study
programs (internships); academic summer camps; and undergraduate
and graduate degrees.
Opportunities
Opportunities exist for U.S. schools wishing to expand their enrollment of French students. A select number of undergraduate and graduate students prefer to go abroad to broaden their university and post-graduate training and experience. In 2006, over 14,466 student and exchange visas were issued in France for the U.S. (4,040 student visas and 10,526 exchange visitor visas). These French students generated more than USD 165 million in revenue from tuition and living expenses. France ranks third in Europe, after Germany and the United Kingdom, as a source of students for U.S. educational institutions. Opportunities for U.S. schools are expected to continue growing due to the favorable view of the French toward studies in the United States. American educational institutions should increase their efforts to promote their programs in France.
Resources
Official organization: Fulbright Commission, http://www.fulbright-france.org
Trade Events:
SALON DES FORMATIONS Education: International Studies
INTERNATIONALES January 2008, Paris
http://www.letudiant.fr
EXPOLANGUES Foreign Language Educational Materials &
Services
http://www.expolangues.fr January 2008,
Paris
PARIS MBA FORUM STUDYRAMA Education: MBA Programs
http://www.studyrama.com February 2008,
Paris
WORLD MBA TOUR Education: MBA Programs
http://www.topmba.com October 2007 &
March 2008, Paris
SALON DE L'ETUDIANT DE PARIS Education: Bachelor &
Graduate Studies
http://www.letudiant.fr March 2008, Paris
U.S. Embassy Commercial Service Trade Specialist: Valerie.Ferriere@mail.doc.gov
Phone: (33-1) 43 12 27 70
Website: http://www.buyusa.gov/france/en
For data tables and additional information corresponding to this prospect please contact Valerie.Ferriere@mail.doc.gov
One Line training in France
This report summarizes the present state of French online job training, based on studies conducted in March and April 2006 by two branches of Paris’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PRÉAU and OFEM. According to their findings, e-training is mostly common in small and large businesses, but less so in medium-sized companies.
Who uses e-training?
PRÉAU and OFEM contacted 719 businesses for the report, of which 155 answered their questionnaire. 115 of these companies said that they use some form of online job training for employees. Among the respondents, 43% are multinational and 57% national. Nearly half (48.0%) are principally in the service sector; industry forms a third of their number (33.6%), and the rest are mainly in the public sector or are centered around distribution and trade.
There is a marked deficit in the number of medium-sized businesses using e-training. Just over half of the companies polled are large businesses with 1000 or more employees, while small businesses with fewer than 200 employees form 35.5% of the total. Businesses with a medium-sized payroll comprised only 13.1% of the sample.
Almost three-fourths of businesses using e-training have had it in place for three or more years. Of this number, about two-thirds fall under the heading of large businesses.
How is e-training used?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, e-training is most often used to instruct employees in the use of office software (58.9% of those surveyed). In second place, half of respondents said that teaching languages was a goal of their e-learning program. The third most cited reason was the training of IT staff to use the office’s computer systems. Beyond these three, however, the sample is not sufficiently large to draw definitive conclusions from the relative frequency of the responses. Other fields cited as employing e-learning include marketing, sales, management, and production.
How much is spent on e-training? What do companies get out of it?
The responses show no difference in funds budgeted for e-training among half of companies since the last survey was conducted in 2004, though spending on e-training by large businesses has trended upwards. The amount that each business spends varies depending on its size and its sector, with larger companies spending more.
72% of the French companies surveyed name flexibility as an asset of e-training. Allowing the employee to act independent of supervision in the field he or she learns is cited as an asset by 61% of respondents. The same number say that the ability to individualize the training experience is a positive aspect.
About half of businesses using e-training cite internal resistance to change as one of the problems facing e-training, with technical issues and matters of time and organization being a smaller concern.
Knowledge Management
This year, the PRÉAU-OFEM survey addresses, for the first time, the way that businesses organize and store information (knowledge management, or KM). A supplementary section of the report shows that 86% of the companies responding to the survey share data on an intranet or other internal computer network. Only a third of the businesses sampled use software dedicated specifically to electronic document management. Just over half of the respondents integrate their knowledge management and e-training systems, or plan to do so in the future.
Links to websites outside the U.S. Government or the use of trade, firm, or corporation names within U.S. Commercial Service web sites are for the convenience of the user. Such links and use do not constitute an express or implied official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Commerce of any private sector web site, or of the products or services of specifically identified companies or of any of the private entities that may have contributed to a U.S. Commercial Service web site.