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MICEFA is a consortium of most of the Universities of Paris and its region. It was created in 1985 to promote cultural and scientific cooperation between France and North America. Our North American partners include over 80 universities in the United States and Canada. Exchanges last for one semester or an academic year. Two- to four-month exchanges are arranged in the field of Medicine. For the 2008-09 academic year, MICEFA has facilitated the exchange of approximately 450 students and scholars.
MICEFA serves as a tool for enhancing North American/French academic cooperation. Unlike traditional "island" study abroad programs, MICEFA provides students access to a genuine experience in a French university with French and European students. Student Exchange Each year MICEFA facilitates the integration of approximately 170 North American students. As students are exchanged on a one-to-one basis, we send an equal number of French students to our partner institutions. Fees and tuition are paid to the home university and not to the host institution. Reciprocity is a key requirement for the success of these exchanges. Students are expected to be in good standing in their home universities and to possess adequate language proficiency (at least two years of university level French or equivalent). As students are non-degree candidates, their studies abroad are counted toward the completion of their home degree requirements. MICEFA Services MICEFA provides North American visiting students with a three-week orientation and language preparation program. This program is designed to assist with the academic preparation and cultural adaptation. With the advisement of the MICEFA academic director, each student selects an individualized study program. Depending on the students' proficiency in French and degree requirements, they may attend any one of the 14 member universities. MICEFA also offers 3-4 courses per semester in French taught by Parisian university faculty. MICEFA staff provides many services to the students, including: assistance in securing short- and long-term housing, paperwork concerning the titre de sejour, academic advising, French tutoring, a transcript of their academic work, the organization of social events, visits and short trips to places of interest. We are currently in the process of developing an alumni database. Our aim is to help students continue to make the most of their study abroad experience by keeping in contact with the MICEFA network. We hope this network will facilitate further educational, personal and professional exchange. Teaching Assistantships MICEFA also offers several Teaching Assistantships in French secondary educational institutions. We also offer 3-4 positions for native English speakers to teach as "lecteurs" in the Parisian universities. Please see the section to the left for more information. Medical Exchange MICEFA has a Medical Exchange program, which offers participants the opportunity to experience another country medical system. We are currently collaborating with University of Pennsylvania, George Washington University, Albert Einstein at Yeshiva University, Harvard University and Columbia University Schools of Medicine. The main principle of our program is again a reciprocal medical exchange: students (Med 1, 3, or 4) from the American university partners and students of Paris Medical Schools enroll with a tuition waiver from the host institution.
MICEFA expects reciprocal services to be offered to French students in regards to orientation, advisement and general student services. What MICEFA can do for your University?
MICEFA team provides:
- Access to a wide choice of prestigious universities, including the Sorbonne, with various curricula and emphases on different fields (including humanities, social sciences, pre-law, business. Special programs exist for medical, law and engineering students).
- A team of trained professionals and academics to help facilitate cultural adaptation and adjustment, the selection of courses attended in France and the transfer of credits to the home university.
- Intensive 3-week sessions of French language, in September and January, including cultural activities and visits.
- Courses of French language (oral, written) and culture available both at partner universities and directly through the MICEFA.
- Assistance in securing short- and long-term housing and obtaining medical coverage, if necessary.
- Individualized attention and advisement in integrating into Parisian life: Carte de séjour, internships, small jobs, teaching jobs, extra curriculum activities, French student contacts and gatherings, etc.
- Help in organizing customized symposia for American partner universities on a given subject, in English if requested, in order to facilitate American faculty to further their contacts with French academia, both for research and teaching purposes.
- A newly launched Summer program in French language and culture offers French courses in the morning and cultural activities and visits in the afternoons during the month of July (option for a faculty member to accompany university student group).
How is the Program Financed?
MICEFA is a non-profit organization with a Governing Board composed of the Presidents of the participating universities, elected officials and public figures. Funding is provided through public resources, including the participating Parisian universities and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research as well as fees paid by participating French students.
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