During her visit to French Guiana from 12 to 16 December 2022, the Minister for Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, visited three sites of the University of French Guiana: the ECOFOG laboratory, the IUT in Kourou and the Troubiran campus.
D uring her visit, the Minister met with key players in higher education and research in French Guiana, including the CNRS, IRD, CNES and research laboratories, as well as staff and students from the University of French Guiana. This is an opportunity to discuss current and future projects with them.
The morning of Wednesday 13 December was devoted to a visit to the Bois-Chaudat campus, where the Kourou IUT is located. The Minister was welcomed by the director of the Kourou IUT, Idris SADLI. He gave her a presentation of the institute. She was then taken on a tour of the IUT premises and shown practical work by students. The morning was devoted entirely to discussions with the students, who were able to talk to her about their wishes, their aspirations and their career paths.
The day after this sequence, the Minister was expected at the main site of the University of Guyana, the Troubiran campus in Cayenne. During the afternoon, two major events were organised. On her arrival, the Minister met with students from various courses of study, as well as those involved in campus life. She talked to students on work-study programmes, student associations, doctoral students, student tutors, student entrepreneurs, etc. She then inaugurated the new general administration building, in the presence of the ministerial delegation accompanying her, the Senator for French Guiana, Marie-Laure Phinéra-Horth, the Mayor of Cayenne, Sandra Trochimara, the Rector of the French Guiana Academy, Philippe DULBECCO, the President of the University of French Guiana, Antoine Primerose, and members of the university community.
At the end of the afternoon, the ministerial delegation, comprising the Minister for Higher Education and Research and three MEPs, Christophe Grudler, Stéphan Bijoux and Max Orville, travelled to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. They were given a presentation of the "campus connecté" distance learning system. Under this scheme, students in the commune can take advantage of courses offered through partnerships with other universities in France.
