Organized by the research center LIDILE and the CIREFE - Rennes 2’s French language-learning center, our university will be hosting a 2-day seminar which will bring together educators, researchers, and community leaders to analyze the unique needs and challenges faced by students in exile, while looking at how universities can more effectively support these groups. This event will be held in two segments: on November 14 at the Cinéma d’Art et Essai ARVOR, and on November 15 on the Villejean campus of Rennes 2.
November 14 – Cinéma d'Art et Essai ARVOR
The event will kick off with the presentation of the creative writing workshop "Reprendre la main," featuring students from the DU Passerelle programme. This workshop, led by author Belinda Cannone, provides an outlet for refugee students to express their experiences through writing. At 6 PM, attendees will enjoy a screening of "Même si tu vas sur la lune" (2024), directed by Laurent Rodriguez, followed by a discussion with the film’s production team. The film, exploring themes of displacement and resilience, will set the tone for the following day’s dialogue into the experiences of students in exile.
November 15 – Rennes 2 University, Villejean Campus
University leaders will open the discussion the following day, with speeches from Professor Edwige Fusaro, Vice President for International Affairs, Christine Evain, Director of LIDILE, Chantal Prost, Director of the CIREFE and Ariane Feyler, Head of the DU Passerelle program at the CIREFE. The day will feature presentations from experts in refugee education, such as Patricia Gardies from the Institut Universitaire d’Enseignement du Français langue Étrangère, who will speak on the DU Passerelle, an academic programme designed to help refugee students integrate into university life.
Other notable presentations include:
- Pierre Salam, who will reflect on a decade of solidarity and innovation in building the DU Passerelle.
- Sophie Busson, presenting a comparative analysis of living and study conditions of refugee students.
The afternoon will feature a roundtable discussion on the integration of exiled individuals, followed by a presentation from Marie-Laurence Flahaux, who will explore the experiences of students from sub-Saharan Africa in Europe. The day will conclude with insights into the academic challenges faced by Syrian students in Belgium and a legal perspective on the vulnerability of refugees from Clémence Jensen, a specialist in refugee law.
This seminar aims to provide a valuable platform for sharing interdisciplinary knowledge on the diverse academic and social experiences of students in exile with the goal of fostering a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.
