Ambassador Extraordinary of the French Republic to the Russian Federation Pierre Lévy and Consul General of France in Yekaterinburg Pierre-Alain Coffinier visited the Ural Federal University. The French delegation discussed with representatives of the university the options for cooperation in the field of education and culture, visited the center of the French language and culture of UrFU.
“An interesting detail – almost 29 years ago – in October 1991, the first ambassador of a non-socialist state who visited our university was the French ambassador, Bertrand Dufour. Since then, we are happy that the French ambassadors visit our university during their visits to Yekaterinburg,” said the rector of UrFU Victor Koksharov.
At the center of the French language and culture of UrFU, the delegation managed to communicate with students. According to Pierre Lévy, he is always happy to meet with students and expressed his readiness to give a lecture next time.
“I know the reputation of your university well and I am glad that I am following in the footsteps of my predecessors. In particular, H.E. Ambassador Jean Morris Riper, who in 2014 opened the French Language and Culture Center of UrFU, the ambassador explained. – I love going to universities for various reasons. First of all, studying at a university is like the air that today’s students breathe. And our students should be able to study in different countries. When I was 18, I went to study in another country, which was a rarity in those days. I was able to leave my parents – this was already a big step. And then – it completely changed my thinking.”
In addition, the delegations presented books published in France in the 18th century from the library of the Alexander Pushkin Lyceum: “French Architecture” by Jacques-Francois Blondel, “Ceasars of Emperor Julian” from the library of Jean-François La Harpe (Tsar Alexander I’s mentor), ‘Encyclopedia, or Explanatory Dictionary of Sciences, Arts and Crafts’ by Denis Diderot and Jean Leron d’Alembert (published in 1751-1780, 35 volumes in total).
Ambassador Pierre Lévy served as French Ambassador to Poland (2016-2019), previously Director of the European Union Department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He served as Director of the Center for Analysis and Forecasting of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Secretary General of the Commission for the Compilation of the White Paper on Foreign and European Policy of France. Commander of the Legion of Honor, Officer of the National Order of Merit.Ural Federal University is one of the Russian leading universities, ‘5-100 Project’ participant, located in Ekaterinburg — the capital of 2023 FISU World University Games. Ural Federal has initiated the creation of Ural Interregional Research and Education Center (UIREC), aimed at successful completion of National Project ‘Science’ tasks.
Source: Ural Federal University
Great!!!