HYDERABAD: The French Government has designed a new scheme for foreign students that allows them to stay in France for six months after the completion of the course to find a suitable job.

"It has been introduced from this year to attract talented foreign students in emerging fields of science and technology," said Olivier Chiche-Portiche, EduFrance Coordinator for North America at a press conference here on Monday. He said France was keen to have Indian students studying

in French universities and other institutions. He said a French degree for an Indian student would mean a great career not just in Europe but also in India with the booming business between India and France and also increasing operations of French companies in India.

Education fairs

Mr Olivier said to attract Indian students and educational institutions to have tie-ups with French institutions, EduFrance in association with French Embassy and Alliance Francaise will organise education fairs in India in February. Institutional meetings between French and Indian institutions would be held at the International Convention Centre in Hyderabad on February 19 and 20.

More than 100 French institutes are likely to participate in these meetings and Indian educational institutes keen on collaboration can approach the EduFrance. Interested Indian institutes can register on www.edufrance.in Frederic Dart, Director of Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad said Hyderabad contributed one-third of Indian students in France now after New Delhi and Mumbai. He was sure that the quality of courses with English as well as French medium option would attract more Indian students. The subsidised tuition fee was an added advantage.

The visa approval rate of Indian students was a very high at 83 per cent and it indicated keen interest among Indians.

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