Visit of the French Ambassador His Excellency Philippe Etienne
On Monday, April 24, His Excellency Philippe Etienne paid a visit to Göttingen and University of Göttingen. In the framework of this visit, he held a lecture in the University’s Paulinerkirche, wherein he highlighted the importance of universities during the integrational European process. Furthermore, an animated discussion arose concerning the role of the French language at schools and universities in Lower Saxony.
Following his arrival in Göttingen, Professor Franziska Maier and Mrs. Christa Neifeind welcomed His Excellency. Professor Maier teaches Romanic and Comparative Literature at the University of Göttingen while Mrs. Neifeind works for the German-French Society Göttingen. After a short meeting discussing the future of the French Language in Lower Saxony, he was shown around the observatory and the on./off.-exhibition, where he met the President of the Georg-August-Universität, Professor Ulrike Beisiegel, to walk jointly to his lecture. This lecture covered the topic “Universities and European Integration: The French role in the past and today”.
During this lecture, the Ambassador praised the University of Göttingen: “Göttingen has always been known as the beacon of knowledge.” Moreover, he highlighted the initiative France and as well Germany had to show for the European Union, especially concerning defense- and economical politics. Finally, he emphasized the importance of learning the mutual languages. Professor Beisiegel agreed with this sentiment and added that the University of Göttingen would advance the French language further.
Since the visit took place one day after the first election process in France, the diplomat could not issue a statement to its outcome. However, in the meantime he has been called into Macron’s cabinet as a diplomatic advisor.