Alliance Objectives

The Alliance ambitions to organize every year events uniting students from all of the six participating Universities, Alliance Alumni, and guests from the political, economic and scientific fields, in order to discuss themes which affect the Franco-British relationship.

The Franco-British Alliance was founded in the Château de Breteuil on April the 8th 2004, the birthplace of the Entente Cordiale, during its 100th anniversary.

Our goals:

To encourage students to engage with important future issues, and to provide them with the organisational platform to do so.
To be the Student Davos for future world leaders.

Our ambitions:

To build a significant network of alumni worldwide.
To bring universities, students, and leaders closer.
To foster reciprocal awareness.
To encourage cooperation for a common future.

WE WELCOME STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. A FRANCO-BRITISH BACKGROUND IS NOT A PREREQUISIT.

The network of The Alliance shows the development of a society transnational society where leaders study, work and think beyond the borders.

The core of The Alliance: our annual summit and conference

The annual summit

Every year one of the six universities organises the annual summit, a three day event, bringing over 300 students together. The first day is our institutional day, traditionally crowned by a reception at the Hôtel des Invalides in France or Lancaster House in Great Britain. The FBSA aims to tackle broad issues such as those raised at the World economic Forum. These are discussed on the second day during panel discussions and workshops. The 2005 and 2006 summits at the Ecole Polytechnique and the University of Oxford were based respectively on Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation In Higher Education, and the 2007 summit was based in Paris, and addressed the issue of sustainable development. The 2008 Summit will be held at Cambridge University. Over 50 experts from various fields, for instance Business, Government, Research and Media are invited every year.

The annual conference

Held in spring, the venue of this one day conference rotates between The Château de Breteuil and Hatfield House, the properties of our two Honorary Presidents The Marquis de Breteuil and The Marquess of Salisbury, whose ancestors were the two main architects of the Entente Cordiale. We will discuss topics with a stronger European and Franco-British background.

The annual Alumni meeting

The Alliance organises every year with the FBSA advisory board, an event for the all former members and students. The first Alumni meeting will be held in London, in early July 2008, under the leadership of LSE Alumni office and in coordination with the other Alumni offices. The venue and the theme will be shortly decided.

The annual Alumni promotional campaign

The Alliance will every year in September and October, promote its activities in the participating universities, during an intense campaign, at the occasion of the fresher's fair.

View the programmes, photos and reports from the Summits