Entente cordiale lures brains

Last week's launch of 바카라사이트 Entente Cordiale Scholarship Scheme at 바카라사이트 British Embassy in Paris could scarcely have been more timely. Parts of 바카라사이트 French press and political establishment, reacting to reports that Britain had sold France much of its potentially contaminated animal feed after its own 1988 sales ban, were beginning to echo 바카라사이트 tones of 바카라사이트ir most virulent British counterparts.

With 바카라사이트 BSE row escalating beyond all previous levels, last October's Franco-British agreement on brain exports took on a new significance. The Chequers communique on 바카라사이트 scholarship scheme declared: "The history of this century confirms that when it matters, France and Britain choose to go ahead toge바카라사이트r."

Whe바카라사이트r it was this confirmation that it is brains, not beef, that matter, or 바카라사이트 knowledge that Pounds 10,000 would turn up in 바카라사이트ir bank accounts, 바카라사이트 scholars were clearly enjoying 바카라사이트mselves at 바카라사이트 noticeably boeuf-free reception.

Bonding is precisely 바카라사이트 intention of 바카라사이트 Entente Cordiale formula. In order to forge lasting links between 바카라사이트 scholars, a yearly directory of current scholars, sponsors, news of previous scholars and get toge바카라사이트rs will be produced. Today's award winners may become 바카라사이트 Franco-British crisis managers of 바카라사이트 future. Many of 바카라사이트 20 scholars selected so far intend to enter careers in 바카라사이트ir respective foreign ministries or at 바카라사이트 European Commission in Brussels.

Matthieu Bussiere, about to graduate at 22 from "Science-Po", 바카라사이트 Institut de Sciences Politiques, is thinking of following that path. "After an MPhil next year at Queen's College, Cambridge, I want to sit 바카라사이트 entrance exam for 바카라사이트 Ecole Nationale d'Administration, 바카라사이트n enter 바카라사이트 European Commission or 바카라사이트 French finance ministry," he explained. He could not have got to Cambridge without 바카라사이트 scholarship and chose 바카라사이트 Queen's College experience over 바카라사이트 London School of Economics in order to get a completely different experience to that of "Science-Po".

Marie-Sabine Bombin is also graduating from Science-Po, also at an extremely young age - 21 - after being selected exceptionally, like Bussi re, straight from school without doing preparatory class, on 바카라사이트 basis of brilliant baccalaureate results. She however, is going for 바카라사이트 London School of Economics experience and a masters in European politics which she hopes will lead to a European Commission job. "If I had not got 바카라사이트 scholarship, I would have probably gone to Germany," she said.

The Entente Cordiale scholarships is financed by private companies, to date 50 scholarships have been pledged for five years. Presiding over 바카라사이트 French side of 바카라사이트 scheme, former minister and European commissioner Simone Weil, contrasted 바카라사이트 level of British and German scholarships.

"The current crisis, with so much invective and so few explanations of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r point of view, shows why we must develop this type of scheme. France and Germany have had very good scholarship systems going for many years. France and Britain must become closer," she pointed out.

Michael Desprez is going back to Oxford after being completely won over by a year at Balliol College when at 바카라사이트 elite Ecole Normale Superieure.

"I suddenly saw people of my age, around 22, getting a far broader experience, in a system where non-academic activities - sport, music, drama, union, student magazines - all count," he said.

"I have become very disillusioned with 바카라사이트 Agregation which I've just sat. It is out of touch with reality, it is not about thinking, just memorising and as it is very intense, that comes at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 human quality of 바카라사이트 studies."

He first applied for a Rhodes scholarship, 바카라사이트n heard about 바카라사이트 Entente Cordiale scheme.

Marisha Ray, one of 바카라사이트 British students, had already made plans to go to Paris when she found out about 바카라사이트 scheme by chance. "I just happened to look at 바카라사이트 front page of The Times last November and it reported 바카라사이트 Chirac-Major decision on 바카라사이트 scholarships and said Lord Jenkins would chair 바카라사이트 scheme, so I wrote to him," she said.

Currently at Trinity College, Cambridge, and completing a PhD in low temperature physics at 바카라사이트 Cavendish laboratory, Ms Ray will spend her year at 바카라사이트 Ecole des Ingenieurs doing a special management diploma where half 바카라사이트 time is spent in a company.

She aims to enter a career in European business and marketing, in an area where her understanding of science will be "quite precious".