WAM Abu Dhabi, June 20th, 2012 (WAM) -- The end of the academic year in Emirati universities marks the start of the Institut Francais des Emirats Arabes Unis programme of cultural and linguistic exchanges with France.

According to French Embassy, the Institut Francais des Emirats Arabes Unis has doubled its summer scholarship programme this year and offered 4 linguistic scholarships to distinguished Emirati students from UAE University and Zayed University.

The four selected students will stay in France from June 22nd to July 14th. The programme of the scholarship includes two days of cultural visits in Paris and three weeks of French language training in Vichy (spa town in central France) or Antibes (on the French Riviera). All 4 students will be accomodated in French host families in order to get a true insight of the French culture.

This programme of linguistic scholarships from Institut Francais is part of the rich and continuous cooperation between France and the UAE, and aims at fostering cultural understanding between French and Emirati youths, as well as promoting French language among Emirati students, with a long term view, the embassy said.

Institut Francais des Emirats Arabes Unis is the cultural wing of the French Embassy in the UAE. It is the local office of the new French agency for the promotion of French culture globally. It was established in the UAE, as well as in 11 other locations abroad, on 1 January 2012. Institut Francais has active partnerships in the academic and linguistic fields with many Emirati higher education institutions, including but not limited to UAEU and ZU.

WAM/AM