On 30 March 2022, the Jagiellonian University was visited by the Ambassador of France to Poland Frédéric Billet together with the Consul General of France in Kraków Anne Schmidt-Riou and attaché for scientific and university affairs Jean-Luc Schneider. The delegation was received in Collegium Novum by JU Rector Prof. Jacek Popiel, JU Vice-Rector for International Cooperation Prof. Dorota Malec and director of the JU Institute of Romance Studies Prof. Wacław Rapak.
During the meeting, the JU Rector stressed the importance of the School of French Law, established in 2000 at the JU Faculty of Law and Administration, which closely collaborates with the University of Orléans. Prof. Dorota Malec provided more details about the School, praising its accomplishments and popularity amongst students.
Participants of the meeting also discussed the Una Europa Bachelor in European Studies programme, developed and introduced by the nine member universities of the Una Europa network. As a pioneering and innovative endeavour, focusing on multidisciplinary approach, multilingualism and mobility, it goes far beyond the scope of other similar initiatives, such as the Erasmus programme.
Prof. Jacek Popiel expressed his appreciation for a meeting organised jointly by the French Embassy and JU Institute of European Studies, which will be hosted on 5 May, stating that issues to be discussed during that meeting, including energy transformation and environmental protection, are one of the key problems discussed by the recently established JU Climate Board, a grassroots initiative of the JU academic community.
Additionally, Prof. Jean-Luc Schneider proposed that the next Polish-French Science and Innovation Forum be hosted at the 3rd Campus of the 600th Anniversary of the Jagiellonian University Revival, which gained the approval of the JU Rector.
Frédéric Billet was born on 20 July 1959 in Besançon. He is a graduate of the Saint-Cyr Military Academy. He also studied military science and national defence and Slavic studies at the University of Montpellier and the Sorbonne. Previously, he served as the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Tallin (2009–2013), deputy head of Diplomatic Protocol (2013–2016) and head of Diplomatic Protocol (2016–2019). He has been awarded with the National Order of Merit and Order of the Legion of Honour. On 18 October 2019, he became the French ambassador to Poland.
