In the first semester of the 2026-2027 academic year, ENS de Lyon is welcoming more than 80 international students from some 20 countries. The International Relations Office organized a welcome program for them, which included a welcome reception attended by the School’s president, Emmanuel Trizac, and the vice president for International Relations, Vanessa Guignery.
As the 2026 academic year begins, ENS de Lyon is welcoming more than 80 international students from some 20 countries. As it does every year, the International Relations Office organized a welcome program in late August, combining intensive French language courses, practical information sessions, and social events.
From China to the United Kingdom, as well as Italy, Germany, Sweden, and many other countries, international students enrich exchanges within the School and make it a crossroads of different cultures and academic traditions.
In his welcome speech at the reception on October 12, the School’s president, Emmanuel Trizac, introduced ENS de Lyon through its history, its values, and the projects that are helping to shape its future.
The new Vice President for International Relations, Vanessa Guignery, noted that the presence of international students is a tangible embodiment of the School’s commitment to scientific and educational collaboration on an international scale. Drawing on a quote from Marcel Proust’s Remembering Things Past, she emphasized the importance of exploring new perspectives:
The only true voyage of discovery [...] would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes [...]
She encouraged the students to take advantage of their time abroad to explore new ways of thinking, learning, and understanding the world. She also emphasized that international mobility is not limited to crossing geographical borders, but also allows students to transcend intellectual and cultural boundaries.
Welcome to all our international students!
