The participants of the meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the French Republic, Etienne de Poncins, discussed the situation and prospects of cooperation between the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and the French universities during his visit to the university on 15th November.
This is Etienne de Poncins’ first visit to the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute because he arrived in our country only in August this year. Therefore, the Rector of the university, academician of NAS of Ukraine M. Zgurovsky showed Etienne de Poncins the historical part of the campus and the exposition of the State Polytechnic Museum and told him and the staff of the Embassy of the France in Ukraine about the history, present situation and prospects of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute’s development.
After a short excursion to the university, the guests met with its representatives. In addition to the rector, the first Vice-Rector, academician of NAS of Ukraine Y. Yakimenko, Vice-Rector for International Relation, a member of NAS of Ukraine S. Sidorenko and others took part in the meeting on the Ukrainian side. On the French side – Cultural and International Relation Adviser, the director of the French Institute in Ukraine, the head of the department of culture and international relation Natalie Beras and the Attache for University and Scientific Cooperation Alix de Gassart.
Cooperation between the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and French educational and scientific institutions has a long story. For, example, back in 2006, the Rector M. Zgurovsky and the then Ambassador of French in Ukraine Jean-Paul Claude Vézien signed an agreement to establish a French Information Center at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In 2008, the university joined the Francophone Association and is constantly involved in its activities. In 2010, The Ukrainian-French Center was established at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Moreover, now the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has 13 partner universities, with two of them - Universite de le' Mans and the world-famous École Polytechnique – works on double degree programs. The Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has also cooperated and is now successfully cooperating with French universities on individual projects. In this way, the basis for improving partnerships in different areas created very well.
Finally, the French Ambassador congratulated the first Vice-Rector Y. Yakimenko on the recent award of the Order of Academic Palm and the title of Officer of this Order, which is given to members of teaching and scientific community who are actively contributed to the strengthening of cultural relations between France and other countries. He also noted that the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is the leader in the field of cooperation between Ukrainian universities and French universities and he emphasized that the embassy is interested in further expanding this practice.