Conference on Welcoming International Students

In Montpellier, on April 1 and 2, 2026, a conference on welcoming international students organized by Campus France brought together more than 440 stakeholders from 161 higher education organizations. The objective of this Conference is to improve the reception of these students, with the government’s desire to prioritize talent, particularly in promising fields. Announcements on the arrangements for welcoming international students and the directions implemented will be made through ministerial channels.

“ We receive as much as we give. »

At the opening of the Conference, Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier, recalled the pillars “ Feed, care and protect » of the University of Montpellier whose responsibility is to protect students and researchers threatened, and in particular by the restriction of academic freedom. Anne Fraïsse, president of Paul-Valéry University – Human Sciences, Letters and Languages ​​-, touched the audience with her humanist speech: “ It is a blessing to welcome international students. In the current context, we hear other comments. This important crossroads of cultures is vital for universities. We receive as much as we give. » Anne Fraïsse recalled that at Paul-Valéry University, one in five students is international. She welcomed the upcoming opening of an international student residence in partnership with the CROUS – inauguration planned for September 2026. Anne Fraïsse cited Professor Khaled El-Enany, a former student of Paul-Valéry University who obtained his Doctorate in Egyptology there. Since 2025, this former minister of Egypt has been the Director General of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Another renowned student, Akira Mizubayashi, professor at Sophia University in Japan and writer of Japanese nationality who only writes in French. Akira Mizubayashi is the author ofA language from elsewherein this autobiographical book, he evokes the Paul-Valéry University. “ There are many other examples, said Anne Fraïsse,When these students return to their countries, they are ambassadors of France and maintain links with their universities. They should be welcomed very well. »

The reception systems of Montpellier Universities are structured in a partnership manner up to the Single Reception Center known as the SAIEC (International Student and Researchers Reception Service).

Donatienne Hissard, General Director of Campus France, presented a profoundly changing mobility landscape. She alerted to the challenges facing the European Union in the face of the skills shortage. She indicated that reception conditions are influenced by strong competition, but also restrictive migration policies in countries like the United States and now Canada. Donatienne Hissard gave other examples, because “ the competition is played out as much on the conditions of stay and employment as on academic excellence “. Thus, Malaysia allows an additional year of stay after obtaining diplomas, to visit or travel. New Zealand allows international students to work, and Turkey offers scholarships to Muslim students. For Donatienne Hissard, the challenge is to stand out in the international competition to welcome the best talents, to promote the attractiveness of France to doctoral students and researchers, particularly in fields such as engineering and science.

Upcoming government announcements on arrangements for welcoming international students

Around the world, 200 Campus France spaces provide guidance in administrative procedures, this is a first filter for applications. The Ministry of Higher Education and Research awards scholarships based on excellence criteria and not on social criteria. Representatives of the Ministries of Higher Education, the Interior, Europe and Foreign Affairs indicated the imminence of future government announcements on the arrangements for welcoming international students. More cooperation was requested for greater readability and visibility of the training offer and selectivity criteria. Another issue is respect for the procedure linked to the Etudes en France platform which will undergo a technical upgrade and ultimately, it will be the showcase for higher education and research.

To meet economic challenges and maintain France’s influence, collective work has been initiated to improve certain areas of reception policies. The results and recommendations will be presented as part of the management of Bienvenue en France (attractiveness strategies for international students 2019/2027).

On the ground, the difficulties mainly concern understanding the legislation on the right of residence and the constraints of waiting for the renewal of residence permits. It is all the more complex depending on the Agreements between countries, international tensions and the multiplication of crises, and the systems change depending on the country of origin. One of the ministerial speakers indicated the establishment of legal training on the right of residence, to improve administrative support. For processing times, the ANEF system (digital administration for foreigners) would become autonomous by the end of 2026.

Emmanuelle Garnier, president of the Jaurès University of Toulouse, and invited as a representative of France Universités, noted difficulties in the continuum of academic and professional periods, and specified that only 7% of tenured teacher-researchers are international. She informed of a positioning note published by France Universités and concluded her intervention with a refusal to confuse international strategies and financial choices: “ France Universités wishes to make it clear that it would be damaging if we collectively allowed ourselves to be caught up in a confusion between the need to build an international strategy and being locked into a financial question. We will not resolve this issue of welcoming international students except through the idea of ​​financing universities through increased registration fees. This amalgamation is pernicious and dangerous. »

Fatma Alilate

Conference Welcoming international students – Campus France, in Montpellier

Campus France supports the attractiveness of French higher education by promoting it to international students. Its missions are also to manage scholarships from French and foreign governments, to support students and researchers on mobility, to manage the France Alumni network and to analyze student mobility in France and around the world. The agency coordinates the Campus France Forum in France (more than 370 establishments). Worldwide, it relies on 275 Campus France Spaces, under the authority of French embassies in 134 countries.

The France Alumni network has nearly 650,000 members in 130 countries www.francealumni.fr