'France wants to be privileged partner in India's growth'

New Delhi: Seeking greater cooperation in
education sector, France on Friday said Indian students are most
welcome there and that it wants to be a "privileged partner"
in the growth that India is witnessing now.
"India and France share many things in common. Indian
students are most welcome in France. But, we want highly
specialised people, competent in specific areas," French
Ambassador to India, Jerome Bonnafont, told a conference on
'Management and Professionalisation of Higher Education' here.
"All areas are open. Nano-technology, medical research
and nuclear science are among few of them. Now, there are
1,200 Indian students in France and we want to triple the
number in a few years. For that we have modernised our visa
system," he later told a news agency.

Observing that higher education must focus more on
humanitarian issues, the French diplomat said education system
in countries like India is passing through a phase of elitist
university system.
He said India should develop a university education
system like the one existing in the developed countries.
Bureau Report