Franco-Portuguese Symposium “Bienvenue en France”: Enhancing the Integration of International Students

A Meaningful Experience of Exchange

What were your overall impressions of the Franco-Portuguese symposium?
It was an extremely valuable experience, marked by meaningful dialogue and mutual learning. The peer-to-peer format encouraged open and constructive conversations among participants. The sessions provided an opportunity to share best practices for welcoming international students in a spirit of cooperation and active listening.

How did this event stand out from other international meetings you’ve attended?
What made this symposium particularly distinctive was the diversity of participating institutions, the high quality of presentations, and the close professional ties established among attendees. We engaged with prestigious French institutions such as École Polytechnique, HEC, Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), the University of Reims, and the University of Toulouse, as well as Portuguese partners including the University of Coimbra, the Lisbon Higher Institute of Technology (ISTL), and the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (IPL).

This mix of grandes écoles, public universities, and private schools from both countries allowed for a cross-fertilization of perspectives and experiences.

A Distinctive Pedagogical Model

What topic did you speak about at the symposium ?

I had the opportunity to speak in Lisbon during a session dedicated to the professional integration of international students and the role of alumni networks (Professional Integration of International Students and Alumni Network). I presented how the active pedagogies implemented at CESI, as well as some specific educational modules, support effective professional integration of our international students. This approach, focused on developing individual projects and working in a company-like environment, sparked real interest among participants.

The session continued as a roundtable discussion, co-moderated with my colleagues from the Léonard de Vinci School of Engineering, allowing each university representative, French or Portuguese, to share best practices.These exchanges revealed numerous similarities in our support strategies and the distinctive strengths of CESI’s educational model.

How do CESI’s active pedagogies address the challenges of integrating international students?

They create a professional learning environment where students can develop both technical and soft skills, all while receiving individual support. This prepares them for the expectations of French companies and facilitates their cultural and professional adaptation. Our active pedagogical approach is a cornerstone of the CESI student experience.