The French Embassy would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2007-2008 scholarships.

This year the French Embassy’s scholarship programme witnessed some changes. The application for the scholarships went on-line. Accessible from the portal www.edufrance.in, more than 500 students submitted their applications. Until recently the French Embassy scholarships focused particularly on students wishing to pursue master degree programmes. However, this year several students who applied for undergraduate programmes, with exceptional profiles, have been beneficiaries of this scholarship. Over 200 scholarships were granted. Criteria considered while awarding the scholarships were redefined with area of study, specialization sought and academic excellence remaining paramount. Other factors evaluated included the duration of studies (greater weight was accorded to programmes of long duration), whether or not the student belonged to an institute that has a partnership agreement with a French counterpart and the knowledge of the French language. Meet some of the beneficiaries.

The Embassy of France in India would like to wish all the students going to France for higher education a successful and bright future.

			AVINASH DADHICH - A soft-spoken graduate from the Faculty of Law, Delhi University, Avinash is going to the University of Toulouse 1, France (www.univ-tlse1.fr) for a Masters degree in European and International Law with a special focus on intellectual property rights .“I want to work in a legal firm upon my return or as a company lawyer, a degree in law from France shall go a long way in helping me get there.”

			JESSICA - A confident lass from IIT Delhi, Jessica is on her way to becoming a biotechnologist. She is going in an exchange programme between IIT Delhi and INSA Toulouse (National Institute of Applied Sciences, Toulouse - www.insa-toulouse.fr) in the field of Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences.

			KRITHIKA SRINIVISAN - A student of M.Phil at the TATA Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai working on urban ecology, Krithika has enrolled at the Institute of Political Studies Paris, also known as the Sciences-Po (www.sciences-po.fr) at the Asia Centre to specialize in environmental issues.

			DHRUV BHATLI - A graduate of NIIFT Mohali, Dhruv has been bitten by the Haute Couture bug. Headed for the fashion capital of the world, he is going to pursue an MBA in Fashion Business Development at the Conservatoire Nationale des Arts et Métiers Paris. (www.cnam-iim.fr ) “Paris here I come….” Is what Dhruv has been humming at the CampusFrance office since let’s see…. a year now?

			ROHAN JAIN - He is one of the youngest applicants of the CampusFrance office, Fresh out of St Xavier’s School New Delhi, Rohan is going to France for five years! He is going to graduate with a French engineering degree through the INSA SCAN (www.scan.insa-lyon.fr) programme at Lyon. His dream :“a globally hip and happening IT professional”

			SUPRIYA SURI - A graduate from the Amity University’s Mass Communications Department, Supriya wants to specialize in film direction. Admitted directly to the third year of the professional training programme at the Conservatoire Libre de Cinema Français (www.clcf.fr) to train to be an Assistant Director she is nervous about being able to develop the screenplay sent to her as “homework’ in a correct manner…. she has the uncanny ability to always reach exactly at 13:00hrs to our office and has made us forego several lunches….. so Supriya we await our treat!!

			AMIT KUMAR - A graduate of JNU, fluent in French and with a few years of experience, Amit has decided to fast track his desire for rising in the corporate hierarchy. He is on his way to complete a Masters degree in international business at the Grenoble Graduate School of Business (www.ggsb.com). We really hope he gets to ski, study and work a little….in that order!

			MOHAMMED FAIZAN - having completed his post-graduate diploma in bioinformatics from Jamia Hamdard University, Mohammed has decided to foray into applied industrial biotechnology. One of the few chosen for the Master degree in Industrial Biotechnology at the ISA Lille (www.isa-lille.fr - Agricultural engineering college at Lille) he says that France is a world leader in applied biotechnology with strong industries in food processing, beverage manufacture, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals…

			NAVEEN RAMAMURTHY KANALU - Naveen met us at the European Higher Education Fair and was amazingly single-minded and persistent about his study project. A sincere and relaxed graduate of Economics from KMC Delhi University, he has been clear about heading for the Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris (www.ens.fr) Naveen is taking his entrance exam in July and awaits his result to access the prestigious ENS... His aim is to be the next Amartya Sen. Here is the next Indian on the road to fame…Bonne chance, Naveen!

			SHILPA VAIDYA - Fresh out of St Francis College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Shilpa is going to the Université Marne la Vallée for a Master in fashion studies. She has all it takes to succeed and we wish you the very best.

			SHRINKHLA AREN - An NID Ahmedabad alumni, sure of what she wants to be.. she is on her way to the Institute of Design Studies in Toulon (IED Toulon) to acquire a Master in Design Management.. “ France is THE place where I want to acquire a master degree in design…. and especially management”

			PRIYANKA SHAH - Our friend, a thorough professional and a wonderful CampusFrance counselor…also a graduate in Commerce from the HR College, Mumbai University. Priyanka is on her way to acquire a Master degree in International Marketing and Management from the Euromed Marseille Management School (www.euromed-marseille.fr). CampusFrance India will miss Priyanka a great deal ….hey Priyanka, CNBC Mumbai and Education Times chat forums will be so quiet now with you in Marseille!