Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice-President of Zayed University, praised the collaboration with the cultural, educational and scientific institutions in France, expressing his hope that this collaboration will enhance opportunities for scientific and cultural exchange between Zayed University and those institutions.

Dr. Al Jassim’s remarks came in a reception ceremony held at the Library of Zayed University new Campus in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of the French Ambassador H.E. Alain Azouaou and other officials of the French Embassy, to celebrate  granting  a donation of  recently released French books gifted to the Library from some largest French and Francophonic publishing houses.

Mr. David Bertolotti, Director of Institut Francais, and Mr. Grund Antoine, the Deputy Director along with Zayed University Faculty members and students also attended the ceremony.

The donation includes 110 books, concerned with the fields of human and social sciences. Most of these books are very recent publications, from major publishers in these fields- mainly university presses: Presses Universitaires de France, Presses Universitaires de Paris-Sorbonne, Université de Bruxelles, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Armand Colin, La Découverte, Stock, Autrement, etc. They cover subjects like history, geography, sociology, psychology, economy, political sciences, philosophy, and anthropology.

The publishers of the books have been exhibitors on the French pavilion at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair for the past two years.

Dr. Al Jassim emphasized the fact that Zayed University is keen to increase the volume of cultural exchange with French universities and cultural and scientific institutions, indicating that some research and learning trips for Zayed University students had been organized to some prominent universities in France.

He also stated that the diversity of topics included in the donated books meet with Zayed University’s interest in maintaining convergence and dialogue with the French culture, which enjoys a prestigious place  in the global cultural scene.

The French Ambassador expressed his delight to be visiting Zayed University, and highlighted the importance of enhancing such collaboration between Zayed University and the French cultural and educational institutions.

“As we all know, culture and education are at the very heart of the priorities of the UAE, and France is honoured to be associated to this vision, notably through a continuous collaboration with the major players and institutions in these fields. Of course, the French cooperation in the higher education field is characterised by the presence of Sorbonne Abu Dhabi. But in no way does that limit the partnerships that we aim to build and maintain locally. We have always been working with the Federal universities and Zayed University, founded in 1998, with its 4000 students on its Abu Dhabi campus, has obviously become a key partner of the Embassy”, he said.

He also said that the French Embassy, Institut Français and Alliance Française are more than happy to support the very dynamic French Club, and the staff and faculty of Zayed University, to help them promote the French language and culture.

The French Ambassador also pointed out that, ‘La Francophonie’, which was organized by Zayed University’s “French Club”, from 20 to 22 March this year at the ‘Promenade’ of the Females Campus, was a very successful event that entailed lectures, music, film screenings and more. In this framework, Zayed University also hosted the Campus France “Gulf Tour” of French universities.

He announced that for the first time this year, two students from Zayed University have been granted a linguistic scholarship by Institut Français, and will spend 3 weeks at Centre International d’Antibes, after a brief cultural stay in Paris. Moreover, two other students are also about to go to France, to take part in Sciences Po Paris Summer School.