Language no longer a barrier to study in France: French envoy
KUWAIT: France is broadening access to its world-class universities and institutes for Kuwaiti students, with an increasing number of programs now available in English. Speaking to Kuwait Times on the sidelines of the France-Kuwait Alumni Gala 2025 - held Monday evening at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) - French ambassador to Kuwait, Olivier Gauvin, highlighted the growing inclusivity of France's academic institutions and its relevance for students from Kuwait and the wider region.
'France has some of the world's top universities and schools, in fields like business, engineering, and beyond,' he said. 'Kuwaiti students today can choose from a wide variety of programs that align with their interests and career goals.'
In recent years, a rising number of French institutions have introduced full English-language curriculums, making it easier for international students to begin their studies without prior knowledge of French. 'Language is no longer a barrier,' the ambassador emphasized. 'If you speak French, that's a plus. If not, you can start in English and naturally learn the language through daily life.' While English remains a global necessity, the ambassador underlined the advantages of learning French, especially in the professional sphere.
'Many international corporations operate in French-speaking countries,' he said. 'For them, being able to speak the language is a definite asset, it gives candidates a competitive edge.' Studying in France, he noted, also offers cultural enrichment, personal growth and long-term connections.
Building networks
France's cultural and linguistic presence continues to grow in Kuwait, with over 500,000 French speakers and 1,400 French teachers across public and private schools. Institutions like the French Institute in Kuwait and Campus France play a pivotal role in promoting French language, culture and academic guidance.
The France-Kuwait Alumni Gala brought together graduates of French institutions who are now living and working in Kuwait. The evening offered a chance to reconnect, build professional networks and reflect on the value of their educational journeys.
'It's a unique opportunity to bring all these people together,' the ambassador said. A key part of the event was a panel discussion featuring five alumni, each sharing their personal experiences studying in France, offering prospective students' practical insight into life in France, including motivations, challenges and the many advantages of pursuing higher education abroad.
As part of its continued support for the francophone academic community in Kuwait, the French Embassy is actively working to establish alumni associations. 'We're currently working on launching a network for La Sorbonne graduates in Kuwait,' said the ambassador. 'It will likely be one of the first of its kind here, and hopefully the start of many more.' Plans are also underway to create an association for graduates of Kuwait's French lycée.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Gulf Bank launches ‘Start Smart' campaign for Kuwaitis: Cash gift of up to KD 1,200
Exclusive benefits for salary transfers KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has rolled out an exclusive offer for Kuwaiti citizens under the slogan 'Start Smart.' As part of this campaign, customers who transfer their salaries to Gulf Bank can receive a cash gift of up to KD 1,200, along with a variety of benefits aimed at unlocking new opportunities and supporting them in achieving their goals, step by step. Gulf Bank salary account holders will enjoy a comprehensive suite of benefits, including automatic enrollment in Kuwait's fastest rewards program, which allows them to redeem points for cash, book flights, hotels, and car rentals, as well as shop through one of the region's pioneering bank-exclusive e-commerce platforms. The offer also features exclusive discounts at leading car dealerships, including 0 percent interest on select vehicles. Eligible customers can apply for a personal loan of up to KD 25,000 repayable over five years, as well as a housing loan of up to KD 70,000 with a repayment period of up to 15 years. Additionally, the offer features a one-year safe deposit box rental and a lifetime credit card. This offer is available to Kuwaiti employees in the government, semi-government, and oil sectors, as well as newly hired Kuwaitis or those transferring their salaries to Gulf Bank, provided their monthly salary exceeds KD 600. Additionally, the bank offers customized packages tailored specifically for employees of select government and semi-government institutions. Gulf Bank is committed to meeting the expectations of its salary account customers by understanding their needs and offering the most competitive benefits in the banking sector. This reflects the Bank's continuous dedication to rewarding its customers and supporting them in achieving their goals. To assist individuals interested in transferring their salaries, Gulf Bank will have a booth at Al-Kout Mall in Fahaheel from Thursday through Saturday, running until May 31, 2025. Bank representatives will be available on-site to answer questions and showcase the wide range of benefits offered to Kuwaiti salary account holders through this campaign. Customers can also open a salary account or transfer their salary in just minutes via the Gulf Bank mobile app, which ensures a seamless banking experience with straightforward processes and transparent, innovative solutions. Gulf Bank aims to be Kuwait's leading bank, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace to deliver exceptional customer service while contributing sustainably to the community. Through its extensive branch network and innovative digital services, the Bank empowers customers to conduct banking transactions conveniently and efficiently, ensuring a seamless experience. In alignment with Kuwait Vision 2035, and its commitment to fostering collaborative partnerships, Gulf Bank is dedicated to driving robust sustainability initiatives across environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions. The Bank is committed to implementing strategically selected and diverse sustainability programs both internally and externally.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait reviews UAE, Saudi models as part of charity sector overhaul
ABU DHABI/RIYADH: A delegation from Kuwait's Committee for Regulating Humanitarian and Charitable Work, led by Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs Dr Khaled Al-Ajmi, visited the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week to learn from their experience in charitable and humanitarian work. The visits are part of a series of several to GCC countries. Chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, the committee is responsible for reviewing and developing laws related to charitable and humanitarian work, enhancing governance, and regulating licensing and donations to improve the efficiency and mechanisms of charitable efforts in line with international best practices. Sector overhaul The visits come after Kuwait halted all charitable fundraising pending the rollout of stricter procedures to curb unauthorized donation campaigns. Licensed charities face penalties — from account suspension to full operational shutdown — if they violate the suspension. These measures build on early-2025 reforms, namely the introduction of a centralized aid-coordination platform, and on the dissolution of over 30 charities since November 2024. They also support Kuwait's push to strengthen financial controls and align with FATF anti-money-laundering standards, safeguarding donor funds and preserving Kuwait's global humanitarian standing. Adapting successful practices In Riyadh, the Kuwaiti delegation examined Saudi Arabia's systems for humanitarian work, including integrated governance and oversight frameworks, transparency protocols and international trust-building measures. The delegation also held high-level meetings with Saudi officials to explore opportunities for cooperation, particularly in humanitarian and charitable fields and non-profit sector development. In Abu Dhabi, Dr Al-Ajmi emphasized Kuwait's intent to benefit from successful experiences and adapt inspiring practices to suit Kuwait's local context, with the goal of enhancing its humanitarian work system and improving governance efficiency. Documenting transfers As part of the committee's commitment to developing Kuwait's charitable work system, the delegation visited several public and private institutions in the UAE, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to understand financial governance mechanisms for charitable transfers. They also toured the Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Impact and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Activities. 'What the committee delegation witnessed during the visit reflects the UAE's commitment to a modern, holistic approach to charitable and humanitarian work,' where digital solutions are integrated with humanitarian values, and institutions are managed under precise governance systems that ensure the sustainability and integrity of resources and a measurable impact on beneficiaries locally and globally, said Dr Al-Ajmi. The delegation also reviewed several operational practices from UAE institutions, including digital systems for tracking and documenting financial transfers, distributing aid, and measuring the impact of initiatives. — Agencies
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
NBK holds banking awareness session at English Academy
KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait organized a session for the English Academy students to discuss 'Let's Be Aware' campaign to raise awareness about different popular fraud methods as well as ways to avoid them and stay secure online. During this interactive session, NBK's team presented many examples and case studies, and asked the students several questions to test their understanding. Not only did the session aim to raise awareness, but also teach students to be vigilant and one step ahead to protect their personal information. The team also gave a lot of useful advice to the students to help them avoid fraudulent actions. These included refraining from sharing any banking information or sensitive data with any person or entity, and not responding to any alleged bank-related messages or phone calls. NBK officials affirmed that the bank would never ask customers for personal information via e-mail, SMS or phone calls. The team warned students against responding to such messages, because they are fraud attempts aiming to steal banking or sensitive information. Students were reminded by the team of ways to differentiate between real and fake websites. They also advised them not to click on suspicious links whether on fake accounts on social media or e-mails that use famous logos of banks and telecommunication companies for the purpose of stealing personal information. Many other fraudulent methods were also discussed with the students, such as how some fake accounts build trust with targeted victims by giving them fake offers and appealing rewards. The team warned students against falling for such traps. On this occasion, Adnan Al-Tamimi, Digital Communications Specialist at NBK , said: 'We recognize the importance of raising awareness to fight fraud, which is why we are always keen on raising financial awareness and spreading financial knowledge among society members, including school and university students as well as elders. We also strive to come up with new ways that contribute to educating people on how to protect their financial data and accounts.' Al-Tamami added: 'NBK employs all its efforts to communicate with customers through its digital channels that are followed the most among local banks to guarantee that the objectives of 'Let's Be Aware' campaign reach the widest segment of society.' Al-Tamimi emphasized NBK's continued commitment to providing support to significant strategic campaigns that focus on benefiting society and national economy, further noting that the bank's efforts to fight fraud and educate customers is an integral part of its strategy. Introduced by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), in cooperation with Kuwaiti banks and Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), the 'Let's Be Aware' campaign is the largest across the GCC region focusing on raising banking and financial awareness among bank customers. The campaign covers a variety of crucial topics, including anti-fraud tips, raising awareness on high-risk investments, maximizing benefits from banking services, promoting savings and investment culture, as well as other related topics. It is worth mentioning that NBK is a key supporter and partner in all CBK's campaigns and initiatives to increase financial and banking awareness among different sectors. As the leading financial institution in Kuwait, the bank frequently organizes various activities to raise awareness on all topics related to the banking sector.
