France strengthens academic partnerships with India at Asia-Pacific education fair

In an effort to increase France's academic and scientific clout in the Asia-Pacific area, over 35 French universities are taking part in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) conference in New Delhi, which is organized by Campus France.

The five-day event, taking place from March 24 to 28 at Yashoboomi, will feature 120 French delegates and five diplomatic representatives from Asia under the French Pavilion, aiming to strengthen academic partnerships, with a special focus on India as France targets hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

In 2025, the APAIE, a significant international higher education expo that began in Seoul in 2004, anticipates more than 2,000 attendees from more than 60 nations.

The focus for this year emphasizes how research and cooperation in higher education may help address global issues.

"The Asia-Pacific region remains the main driver of student mobility growth worldwide. It is also a strategic area for scientific and technological research: the significant presence of French institutions, including universities, business schools, and engineering schools, will reflect this importance,” said Olivier Chiche-Portiche, Director of Geographic Coordination at Campus France.

On March 26, there will be a Campus France poster session at the conference that will showcase a survey of 10,000 graduates from Asia-Pacific who received their education in France.

According to the findings, 37% of respondents were able to get employment in France, 64% were hired within six months, and 93% suggested studying there.

With more than 400 MOUs between French and Indian universities, the event showcases increasing mobility.

In 2023–2024, the number of Asia-Pacific students studying in France increased by 13%, with 12% coming from India.

In order to promote French higher education overseas, Campus France is a government organization that works under the auspices of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR) and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

It oversees the French and international government scholarship programs, supports researchers and students participating in exchange programs, organizes the France Alumni network, and conducts research on student mobility in France and globally.\

The organization organizes the Campus France Forum in France, which brings together 372 universities.

It operates under the supervision of French embassies and depends on its 275 Campus France offices across the globe.