Latest news with #OlivierGauvin
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
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.
Arab Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
France issued 36,000 visas to Kuwaitis in 2024
KUWAIT CITY, May 21: 'The relationship between France and Kuwait is excellent. We collaborate extensively in several fields,' says French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Gauvin.' Gauvin made the statement to journalists on the sidelines of a symposium he hosted at his residence entitled, 'Artificial Intelligence: A Catalyst for Women's Success.' He disclosed that 'two days ago, we concluded a very successful archaeological mission, which reflects the strength of cooperation between the two countries in this area; apart from coordination in many other fields, such as education, Science, law and culture.' On the defense and security cooperation with Kuwait, Gauvin affirmed, 'We are fortunate to have a solid foundation which we could build on. Our countries stood side by side during the Liberation War, which created a very fertile ground for expanding cooperation in this area. Currently, we have a strong defense cooperation. For example, joint military exercises were conducted in Kuwait a few weeks ago, and there will be more. Kuwaiti forces are being sent for training in France, and some are learning French. There are also reciprocal visits.' Asked if there are deals in the military field, he said, 'There are no new deals or contracts in this area at the moment. A few years ago, a contract was signed to purchase 30 French Caracal helicopters, which are now in Kuwait. This was an important milestone in our bilateral military relations.' Regarding his assessment of Kuwait's role in supporting regional stability, he stressed that Kuwait plays a very positive role, and continues to do so; because it has adopted a position similar to that of France -- based on respect for international law, stability and dialogue, in addition to rejecting the use of force or the violation of humanitarian law. 'France and Kuwait share common ground in the way we approach international relations,' he asserted. About the lifting of sanctions on Syria, he disclosed that 'since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime, France has been focusing on the Syrian people, not the regime or the factions. Our concern has always been the people. From the beginning, the French President has been keen on supporting a peaceful and comprehensive political transition in Syria. He also expressed this when he invited the new Syrian leader to Paris two weeks ago. Our goal is to promote political dialogue and ensure that our priorities are taken into account by the Syrian leadership.' Regarding visas, he affirmed that the French consulate is currently operating at full capacity in terms of issuing visas -- processing about 250 visas per day. 'We have a small team, but everyone is working diligently to ease travel for Kuwaitis to France. The waiting time for an appointment is currently about a month. Despite our efforts, we cannot reduce the waiting period any further. However, the situation is better than it was in previous years, when the wait times were longer. Overall, the situation has improved this year, because Kuwaitis are now aware of the importance of early planning for visa applications.' He urged those wishing to travel to his country to plan, especially during this busy season. He stressed the need to book visa application appointments as soon as possible, as this will make the process easier for everyone. On the number of visas, he clarified there are no daily figures, but annual figures indicate that in 2024, 36,000 visas were issued, while in 2023, the number was about 42,000.' On the trade and economic cooperation with Kuwait, Gauvin revealed, 'We are working intensively with our Kuwaiti partners.' He said he was in Toulouse, France, last week with a Kuwaiti delegation to celebrate the delivery of the new Airbus A321 to Kuwait Airways, and that there will be more such cooperation in the future. He confirmed France's commitment to promoting comprehensive and ethical technological cooperation, citing the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit held in Paris earlier this year. He praised the active participation of the Kuwaiti Minister of Communications and his accompanying delegation. He stated, 'This participation reflects Kuwait's commitment to strategic issues related to artificial intelligence and opens up prospects for strong cooperation between France and Kuwait in this field.'
Arab Times
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Cultural diplomacy on display as Francophonie celebrations begin
KUWAIT CITY, April 14: The Francophonie Month commenced with a series of cultural activities conducted in the French language and it will continue until the end of April, with the participation of 44 diplomatic missions in the country. French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Gauvin commended the bilateral relations between Kuwait and France, describing such relations as excellent. He also highlighted the historical context of this relationship, as well as the commonalities and cooperative endeavors of both countries. Asked about the prospective official visits between the two nations, he stated that plans are underway to arrange visits by French dignitaries in order to strengthen bilateral ties. On the possibility of President Emmanuel Macron visiting Kuwait, Gauvin is hoping this will happen. He affirmed that President Macron extended an invitation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, and that an initial acceptance has been received. 'Efforts are being made through diplomatic channels to finalize the date for this visit, preferably before the end of the year,' he revealed. He also affirmed an upcoming meeting with the Minister of Defense to discuss military and security cooperation. Citing a prior meeting with the Minister of Education when the expansion of French language education was discussed, he confirmed the desire of the minister to expand French language instruction. He also announced the inauguration of an international French-language baccalaureate program in French high schools this September. He then expressed his aspiration for Kuwait to be a member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, considering the substantial number of French speakers in here and the extensive teaching of French in educational institutions. Meanwhile, Belgian Ambassador to Kuwait Christian Dooms lauded the role of Kuwait in promoting cultural awareness and embracing diverse cultures. He is hoping that Kuwait will join the International Organization of La Francophonie; especially since there are half a million French speakers in Kuwait and 1,400 teachers in the public and private sectors are teaching French to 45,000 students. He emphasized the value of cultural events in fostering dialogue, citing Belgium's early recognition of the independence of Kuwait in 1961 and the historic visit of HH the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad to Paris in 1969, which marked a significant point in Kuwaiti-French relations.
