Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword by His Excellency Bernard Emié
- Foreword by Sir Peter Westmacott
- Preface
- Part I Teaching and Training Partnerships
- Part II Research Partnerships
- Part III Broader Perspectives
- 20 Faire Mieux Ensemble: A New Approach to Franco-British Research Collaboration for Growth and Employment
- 21 Internationalising Higher Education: The Role of the British Council
- 22 CampusFrance, the French Agency Dedicated to International Mobility in Higher Education and Research
- 23 The Role of the UK Media in the Communications Strategies of France's Grande École Business Schools
- 24 The Franco-British Connections: A Student/Alumni Network Supporting Franco-British Student Initiatives
- 25 A Golden Triangle: Universities, Research and Business. A Comparative Perspective Between the UK and France
- Appendices: Addresses and Speeches at the Franco-British Academic Partnerships Seminar, French Institute, London, 5 February 2010
- Index
24 - The Franco-British Connections: A Student/Alumni Network Supporting Franco-British Student Initiatives
from Part III - Broader Perspectives
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword by His Excellency Bernard Emié
- Foreword by Sir Peter Westmacott
- Preface
- Part I Teaching and Training Partnerships
- Part II Research Partnerships
- Part III Broader Perspectives
- 20 Faire Mieux Ensemble: A New Approach to Franco-British Research Collaboration for Growth and Employment
- 21 Internationalising Higher Education: The Role of the British Council
- 22 CampusFrance, the French Agency Dedicated to International Mobility in Higher Education and Research
- 23 The Role of the UK Media in the Communications Strategies of France's Grande École Business Schools
- 24 The Franco-British Connections: A Student/Alumni Network Supporting Franco-British Student Initiatives
- 25 A Golden Triangle: Universities, Research and Business. A Comparative Perspective Between the UK and France
- Appendices: Addresses and Speeches at the Franco-British Academic Partnerships Seminar, French Institute, London, 5 February 2010
- Index
Summary
Introduction
Since the opening of the Eurostar and the development of low-cost airlines, it has never been easier to travel between France and Britain. In terms of international relations between universities, this opens a wealth of opportunities for joint projects initiated and organised by students. This is not the usual structure of university international programmes. These typically take the form of long-term exchanges or joint diplomas, and are organised by staff. As will be argued below, student-led and staff-led approaches are complementary. If student-led projects can overcome certain of their inherent weaknesses there is much scope for their development in terms of international cooperation, especially in the Franco-British context.
Once initiated, student projects face difficulties in sustainability due to the particular dynamics of student societies. Inevitable annual turnover magnifies the challenges of long-term existence and improving best practices over time. Adverse selection problems also arise when the project holds enough prestige to be a valuable addition to a curriculum vitae (CV). One way of overcoming both these challenges is for ex-students of a society to maintain an alumni network which works closely with present students in those societies.
The Franco-British Connections is one such initiative. The role of alumni within this association will be to transmit their experience in organising cross-Channel student projects, with the aim of encouraging other students to develop their own initiatives, and help students in ongoing projects to stay in touch with their predecessors.
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- Franco-British Academic PartnershipsThe Next Chapter, pp. 183 - 192Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2011