Fioraso made the comments as she outlined plans to attract more of the best and brightest foreign students from emerging markets to France, which include improving promotional body Campus France, extending student visas and widening post-study work opportunities.

“The best students are turning away from our country to find better destinations for their education”

“Our country has lost ground in the last 10 years, going from third to fifth place in the ranking of the most attractive countries for higher education,” she said last week. “The impact has not only been quantitive but also, more importantly, qualitative. The best students, particularly in science, are turning away from our country to find better destinations for their education.”

Fioraso’s proposals include extended two-to-three year student visas, one-stop shops dedicated to supporting international students and researchers during their arrival and stay in France, and easing the passage to employment after graduation.

Digitalising and streamlining visa procedures as well as clarifying the roles of consulates and prefectures are also on Fioraso’s agenda.

Each year 290,000 foreign students study in France with 41% of all thesis presentations coming from international students. Still, Fioraso said the infamous Circulaire du Mai – by which the previous government curbed student work rights – wreaked havoc on France’s “long tradition of hospitality and scientific reputation” and robbed the country of the “cultural, scientific, and economic impact” that comes from allowing researchers and the best foreign students access to the labour market.

After the proposals are debated in France’s National Assembly later this month, Fioraso will collaborate with Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to improve the operations of Campus France, the national agency that promotes higher education and international student mobility.

French language lessons will be available to all students from non-French speaking countries

In order to be competitive, France must set it sites on attracting students from Africa, South Korea and the BRIC nations added Fioraso, saying that “the globalisation of knowledge is a reality in progress”. She wants French language lessons to be available to all students from non-French speaking countries and has reaffirmed the government’s goal to build housing for 40,000 additional students by 2017.

She cited the proactive recruitment of some English-speaking destinations and campaigns in the US to attract top science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) students. “France cannot sit back and ignore these developments,” she warned. “A withdrawn France is a France that withers. An open France is a France that thrives. The government’s message to international students is quite clear: Welcome to France!”