"Proud to see students from around the world choose France for their studies"

The Cochin Institute, a biomedical research center located in the heart of Paris, is affiliated with Inserm, the CNRS, and the Paris Cité University. Baptiste’s visit focused on international student engagement in France. As part of the visit, Philippe Baptiste met with eight international students and early-career researchers to discuss their work and, notably, the conditions under which foreign students are received in research institutions.

A conversation with students and early-career researchers

According to the Cochin Institute, a roundtable held on-site gave the minister the opportunity to engage more broadly with research organizations and around thirty students and early-career researchers. The discussion focused on the "appeal of France to international talent, the strategic needs of research bodies, and the quality of student support services".

The Institute reported that the importance of welcoming international students into French research labs was a recurring theme. Philippe Baptiste “asked in-depth questions about how well students were settling in.” Students spoke candidly about the challenges they face, highlighting in particular the bureaucratic hurdles encountered by non-European nationals.

The twofold importance of hosting international students

In a press release, the Ministry of Higher Education noted that the visit brought together master’s students, doctorate candidates, postdocs, and researchers with various nationalities. The event served as a reminder of the core goals driving France’s approach to hosting international students.

Baptiste underlined the "twofold importance" of this effort. On the one hand, international students represent “a pool of excellence” that can help meet France’s workforce needs and strategic priorities. On the other, their presence strengthens the international visibility of France’s higher education system by fostering long-term networks for scientific and economic cooperation.

Three key priorities for a better welcome

According to the minister, “there’s always a sense of pride in seeing young people from around the world choose France for their studies. This openness and diversity are essential, as they help shape our youth and build the country’s future.”
However, he added, “we need to shift our mindset. It’s not just about how many students we host each year. We also need to think about who we’re welcoming and how we’re doing it.”

He highlighted three essential priorities for hosting international students:

• Attracting top talent;
• Focusing on fields that are strategically important to France;
• Paying close attention to the quality of the student experience.

Improving living conditions and integration

Speaking more specifically about student support, the minister also raised the issue of student precariousness. “Student hardship is a major concern that we are fully committed to addressing. Today, one in two international students faces financial insecurity. That’s unacceptable. Our target must be zero.”

He stressed that “any talented international student who wants to study in France should be able to do so in good conditions, regardless of their financial means.” Improving the overall experience and integration of international students is therefore a top priority. Baptiste called on government agencies, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the CNOUS, research institutions, universities, and schools to “identify, in the coming weeks, the best strategies to move forward quickly and effectively.”