India, France to boost student exchange programme

India and France will work on strengthening their student exchange programme, confirmed the External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj.

The two countries aim at increasing the number of students through such programmes by 2020.

"We remain committed to work upon set agreements and aim at doubling up the number of student exchanges by 2020," Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday while addressing the Indian students studying in France at Maison de l'Inde in Paris.

"Student community is always at the heart of our efforts. A large number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between educational institutes of India and France. Almost all the branches of the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) have collaboration with the French management institutes and business schools," she added.

Swaraj used the occasion to propose a hostel which would be run by a person of Indian origin, adding that the hostel be named as "India House".

Prior to the commencement of the address, Sushma Swaraj also unveiled the plaque on the 50th anniversary of the India Hostel, Maison de L'Inde, which is the residential area of the University City of Paris for Indian students!, tweeted the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Swaraj is on a week-long four-nation visit to Italy, France, Luxembourg and Brussels.

Later on Tuesday she arrived in Luxembourg after concluding her France visit.