France boosts Asia-Pacific ties at APAIE 2025 in Delhi with 35 institutions

Around 35 French higher education institutions, coordinated by Campus France, are participating in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) conference in New Delhi, aiming to bolster France’s academic and scientific influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to a press release, the five-day event, which will be held from March 24 to 28 at Yashoboomi, will witness 120 French delegates and five diplomatic representatives from Asia under the French Pavilion, fostering academic partnerships, particularly with India–a key focus as France targets hosting 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

The APAIE, a major global higher education fair since its inception in Seoul in 2004, expects over 2,000 participants from 60-plus countries in 2025. This year’s theme underscores higher education’s role in addressing global challenges through research and collaboration.

Olivier Chiche-Portiche, Director of Geographic Coordination at Campus France, said, “The Asia-Pacific region remains the main driver of student mobility growth worldwide. It is also a strategic area for scientific and technological research: the significant presence of French institutions, including universities, business schools, and engineering schools, will reflect this importance.”

The conference features a Campus France poster session on March 26, showcasing a survey of 10,000 Asia-Pacific alumni educated in France.

Findings reveal 37 per cent found jobs in France, 64 per cent were employed within six months, and 93 per cent recommend France for studies. With over 400 MOUs between French and Indian institutions, the event highlights growing mobility, with a 13 per cent rise in Asia-Pacific students in France in 2023-2024, including a 12 per cent increase from India.

Campus France is a governmental body operating under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR) and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs for the promotion of French higher education abroad.

It manages the French and foreign government scholarship programmes and provides support to students and researchers on exchange programmes, coordinates the France Alumni network and analyses student mobility in France and around the world. In France, the agency coordinates the Campus France Forum (372 institutions). It relies on its 275 Campus France offices worldwide, operating under the authority of French embassies.