Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) The French government has a longstanding policy of hosting outstanding foreign students, not just attracting as many foreign students as possible, and Taiwanese students are welcome to study in France, a French education official said in an interview with CNA Friday.
The French Institute in Taipei issued more than 700 visas to Taiwanese students last year, a 15 percent increase compared to the previous year and an encouraging sign that Taiwanese students have noticed the advantages of studying in France, said Gerard Binder, President of the CampusFrance (CF) Agency.
CF is an inter-agency government institution that has the goal of providing a one-stop service for foreign students who are interested in studying in France, Binder explained.
Taiwanese students have a preconception that France is a country that enjoys great achievements in culture, literature and the arts, Binder said.
While France has been doing well in those categories, he added, people tend to ignore its strong performance in technology, communication and aerospace, which is why Binder encouraged Taiwanese students to explore "the other side of France."
With an annual education budget of 2.5 billion Euros, France enjoys a rare advantage in that all its universities are funded by the government, which means local and foreign students can receive higher education "almost free of charge," Binder claimed.
Students have multiple options in school selection too, he said, as some may prefer to enroll in specialized schools with good reputations in design, cooking and business management.
Binder pointed out that students can take courses taught in English, although they are encouraged to have basic French proficiency. English is one of the most-used languages in the world, but Taiwanese students can learn French as a second foreign language, he said.
In the future, the French government plans to work on various collaborations, such as joint degree programs with Taiwanese institutions, to increase bilateral exchanges, he said.
France ranked third in the world in hosting about 250,000 foreign students, behind the U.S.'s 560,000 and U.K.'s 275,000. The French government is not looking to attract more foreign students to make money -- the main objective for other countries -- but to host outstanding students that can benefit both sides in the long run, he claimed.