Xavier University through the Office of International Cooperation and Networking (OICN) and the Cooperation and Cultural Section (SCAC) of the French Embassy in Manila renewed their partnership for the development of cultural exchanges between France and the Philippines.

Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, XU president, Laurent Legodec, first counselor of the SCAC – French Embassy, Juliette Montuelle, French attaché for higher education, and Elisabeth Enerio, OICN director, signed the memorandum of agreement on June 29 at XU.

The partnership paves the way for the promotion of French and Filipino cultures and expansion of student and faculty mobility programs between XU and educational institutions in France.

The research endeavors between XU and French universities will center on the fields of food processing and food security, biotechnology, marine sciences, and climate change.

Last year, SCAC sponsored a faculty member of the XU Food Technology department to take a two-year master’s program at the Toulouse Agri Campus in Toulouse, France. SCAC will be offering another scholarship grant in 2016.

Moreover, the agreement fortifies the support of the French Embassy for the French language courses and cultural programs of XU with faculty training, financial assistance and access to comprehensive academic materials.

XU offers French courses in the curriculum of its Bachelor of Arts in International Studies program and as elective subjects in other programs.

This partnership is also in line with the agreements forged by the French and Philippine governments to develop educational ties between the two nations in preparation for the Cop 21, the Paris Climate Change Conference which will be held from November to December this year.