The Alliance Française du Bengale (AFdB) and Techno India University (TIU) have formalized their longstanding collaboration with the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership aims to bolster Indo-French linguistic and cultural exchange in the Great Eastern Region of India.
A significant milestone in this collaboration is the establishment of the Salt Lake Annex of Alliance Française du Bengale on the Techno Main Salt Lake (TMSL) campus. This new facility will serve as a hub for French language and culture, offering a range of programs and activities to students, faculty, and the local community.
The MoU aims to establish the “Franco-Indian Centre of Excellence for Language and Culture.” This innovative initiative seeks to promote the French language and culture while fostering academic partnerships between France and India. As part of this collaboration, the partners will create dedicated annexes to offer French language courses at three strategic locations: Techno India University, Techno Main Salt Lake, and various schools within the TIU group. This expansion will significantly enhance accessibility to French language education and cultural programs in the region.
Nicolas Facino, Director of Alliance Française du Bengale, had a conversation with Techno Times about this partnership.
“I was appointed three years ago in November 2021. I arrived here in Kolkata from Ukraine. This is a wonderful city with wonderful people who have deep connections with culture. Kolkata has an organic, natural connection with France. I was really proud and excited to be able to join as old and respectable an institution as Alliance Française du Bengale.”
Facino enthused about his experience in Kolkata. “Time flies so fast in Kolkata. We are in resonance with the pulse of the city. Kolkata is deeply involved in the cultural world. We’ve had lots of events that have promoted French culture in Kolkata but what is more important than the promotion, I’d say, is the cooperation. We conduct the festival of Western classical music that we organize every year at the Victoria Memorial Hall, which we’ll celebrate the third edition of this very year. Last year we’d launched a French Film Festival which Techno India was a part of. We got up to 9000 participants in one week, so naturally it’s been very rewarding to live and work in this city. It’s been a delight to be able to discover the commitment people of Kolkata have towards their culture.”
When asked about the beginning of this partnership, Facino said, “It’s a logical continuity. We began our partnership with French classes in the university. It’s not only Alliance Française. Behind it is the whole French diplomatic network to support the effort, to encourage this dynamic between Techno India University and Alliance Française. When we find a good partner, there’s no need to develop lots of other partnerships. We prefer to focus on that one partnership and nurture this relationship for the benefit of the students, the faculties, and everyone else. Come November, we’re welcoming a French mural artist at Techno India – Charles Foussard, to paint a mural in their campus. So yes, we’re very proud of this partnership.”
“Kolkata is a city of open-mindedness. When one starts to learn a new language, they immediately connect themselves to a new culture as well, so it opens new opportunities, new gates for them. We want to provide that support and encouragement to the students and develop this connection with the international community.”
Mr. Meghdut Roychowdhury, Executive Director & Chief Innovation Officer- Techno India University, added, “This partnership is a significant milestone in our efforts to cultivate a global mindset within our educational ecosystem. By introducing our students and the community to the vibrant French language and culture, we are not only expanding their linguistic abilities but also enriching their worldview and fostering a spirit of international collaboration. Having studied at HEC Paris and being a personal admirer of French culture through my wife, Pauline, this partnership holds particular meaning for me as it brings a beloved aspect of our lives into the core of our academic community.”
The Salt Lake Annex will offer French courses for children and adults every Saturday and Sunday. These courses will be open to both students of TIU/TMSL and the general public, with special discounts available for TIU/TMSL students.