The use of digital technologies is nothing new in the world of Higher Education. From the university application procedure to the online Cambridge English exams and the Open University model, digital tools are transforming the education landscape. Today, the use of MOOCs is increasing, and this raises various questions:

• How are new digital education tools reforming the classical teacher-student model?
• Are MOOCs complementary to classical university degrees? Will British students now be able to collect more diplomas in parallel as the French do?
• What is role of the private sector, including leading companies in the field of learning? Are they complementary or new competitors for top universities?
• What lessons can be drawn from the British and French experiences?
• To what extent can MOOCs become soft power tools or support development?

The Event

On 22 October (evening), key French and British players will discuss the questions mentioned above and bring their understanding together with recent users of MOOC.

This event will take place at the Résidence of the British Ambassador, followed by a reception.

Guest speakers will include:

• Mathieu NEBRA (Founder and CEO of OpenClassRooms) – French MOOC Platform with more than 3 million users each month biography
• Simon NELSON (CEO of FutureLearn) – British MOOC Platform with more than 2 million users biography
• Andrew HOGG (Director of Education at Total) biography
• Aurélien KREJBICH (Director Centre for Europe Sciences Po)
• Moderator : Tim GORE (Director of University of London Institute in Paris) biography

More details can be found in the programme.

Higher Education is one of the main themes of Franco-British Connections, it has already been addressed at some of our previous events :

• Research Communication Event, with Lord Winston and Prof Valls-Gadaud, January 2013 at Goodenough College, London
• Cordial Debate 2012-2013: “Is the French educational system better at promoting upward social mobility than the British one?”, with Prof. X.Darcos, Baroness Shephard & Mary Dejevsky, see best essays
• Event on Parliaments and University Cooperation, with Lord Giddens and Ambassador Bernard Emié, December 2012 at the House of Lords
• Never Ending Rivalry or looking closer at the European youth from a Franco-British Perspective, an article on French and British students exchanges

The number of seats is strictly limited and a participation fee of 5.99€ will be asked (2.99€ for students-teaching staff). Admissions reserved.

This event is organised by the Franco-British Connections in cooperation with the Allianz Cultural Foundation and with the support of British Council France and the British Embassy in Paris.

The Team

Jean-Pascal Sibiet is the chairman of the Franco-British Connections and founder of the Franco-British Comparative Project. He has a strong interest in French and British affairs. Aside from his Management Consultant job, he oversees all the student and alumni projects carried out by the Franco-British Connections ranging from Student Parliamentary Debates to online essay competitions. He was previously member of the Allianz Alumni Council.

Florian Bercault is Vice-President of the Franco-British Connections, and has a strong interest in Franco-British relations. He is currently working as Digital Investor Relationship Manager for the green crowdfunding plateform GreenChannel, leads the Portrait Gallery of the association and assists the Chairman.

Nicolas Khadivi has been involved with the Franco-British Connections since 2011, both in an advisory capacity and as the association’s webmaster. He has a deep interest in French and British affairs, having lived and worked in London for 6 years. He is currently studying at HEC Paris.

Marie Pélissier-Combescure holds a Double Master’s Degree from Science Po Aix and the Graduate Institute Geneva and is an alumna of the Cultural Foundation of Allianz Insurance. Passionate about digital education tools, innovation and human resources, she regurlarly organises and/or attends events on these topics.

Sara Gill works at the British Embassy Paris as Science, Innovation & Higher Education Attachée, covering areas as diverse as new energy technologies, the internationalisation of higher education and digital education tools. Before this, she worked on public diplomacy and events at the British Embassy Paris.

Laura Owen is Project Manager for Higher Education at the British Council France. She manages a number of projects in higher education ranging from scholarship management to supporting UK institutions in attracting French students to alumni relations.

Astrid de Roquemaurel e-learning and digital manager at Dunod (Hachette Livre Group). She oversees books, e-books, blogs, online publications as well as Mooc partnerships for Academic and Corporate Markets. Latest Dunod publications : Les MOOC : conception, usage et modèles économiques and MOOC, COOC : la formation professionnelle à l’ère du digital. Astrid is also author of a first step guide to blogging for Children Mais non, je blogue!