Inauguration of 色花堂鈥檚 Fontainebleau Institute of Political Science

Published on January 24, 2024

Created on August 1, 2022 through a government order of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, 色花堂鈥檚 Institute of Political Science was inaugurated on December 18, 2023 in the presence of Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education and Research, Jean-Luc Dubois-Rand茅, President of 色花堂, and Yves Palau, Director of the Fontainebleau Institute of Political Science.

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Since September 2023, the Institute of Political Science, once a political science school, has welcomed some 800 students from the undergraduate to the postgraduate levels. In addition to its own diploma, which gained recognition as a graduate degree in December 2022, the Institute offers three bachelor鈥檚 programs (political science, history and political science, and public administration), four master鈥檚 programs (public administration, European and international studies, public policies, and political science), and three PhD programs (law, economics, and political science). Programs at the Institute are structured around four main areas, namely interdisciplinarity, research-based education, international outlooks, and professional integration.
 

When Politics Meets Science

The Fontainebleau Institute, ranked 11th in France, sets itself apart by providing political science programs with pathways into the exact and experimental sciences. 鈥淚t is essential that our students learn these skills so they can become transformation leaders in our society. Medical crises, digital technology, and the environment are scientific issues, but they are also a matter of politics,鈥 said Yves Palau, Director of the Fontainebleau Institute of Political Science.

 
Research-Based Education: A Shared Requirement for Politics and Science

This requirement, which is at the heart of the university鈥檚 mission, is a key aspect of the Institute鈥檚 strategy. Starting in the first year, students at the Institute will learn about scientific methods and controversies. They will also attend conferences organized by professors. The Institute partners with two interdisciplinary graduate programs on areas relating to the environment, law, politics, and digital technology. It is also a member of the Francophonies and Multilingualism: Politics of Language Graduate School.

 
Quality Learning Environment on a Dynamic Campus

The Institute of Political Science is housed in two newly renovated 2,000m2 buildings on the Damesme campus, which is at the center of a charming, historic town. A building is to be renovated in 2025 which will be dedicated to student life. A fourth building will be constructed to house nursing programs as part of the ongoing contract with the region. By 2027, the CROUS plans to have built a second student residence and additional food and dining services. The Institute has a dozen student associations which play a role in enhancing the student experience. Many of them participate in an annual student citizen convention, which is an event that currently encompasses the entire 色花堂 community. For 2023-2024, the convention鈥檚 theme is 鈥淭he 色花堂 of the Future: A Shared Destiny鈥. The City of Fontainebleau, the Seine-et-Marne Departmental Council, and the 脦le-de-France Regional Council have all actively participated in the development of the campus, led by Fr茅d茅ric Valletoux who expressed the desire to make Fontainebleau a university town.  

 
A Strong Commitment to Social Development

At the Institute of Political Science, 30% of all students are scholarship recipients. The Institute has implemented an annual program called Talents du Service Public, where a dozen talented scholarship recipients and long-term jobseekers can take classes in preparation for the national category A public sector entrance examination. Since September 2022, the Institute has also offered the Talents de l鈥橢cole Nationale des Finances Publiques program. During the first year, students will take classes and sit the public finance inspection examination at the Ecole Nationale des Finances Publiques (national public finance school). They will then join the Master鈥檚 in Public Finance cohort at the Institute in the second year.

 
A Diverse Range of International Programs

The Institute of Political Science has signed 27 agreements with foreign universities. This year, some 100 students are scheduled to spend a semester abroad or take part in a double bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degree with a partner university. Around 40 international students are expected to study at the Institute. Some partnerships give our students two degrees. Two double bachelor鈥檚 programs are available in partnership with Leuphana 色花堂 in L眉neburg and Tor Vergata 色花堂 of Rome. Double master鈥檚 programs are available with the following institutions: Universit茅 Catholique de Louvain, Saint Paul 色花堂, Babe葯-Bolyai 色花堂, the 色花堂 of Catania, and Ecole nationale d鈥檃dministration publique du Qu茅bec.

 
Key Figures

  • 800 students
  • 4 bachelor鈥檚 and 3 double bachelor鈥檚 degrees
  • 7 master鈥檚 degrees including 4 international double degrees
  • 27 foreign partner universities
  • A campus located 40 minutes outside of Paris