In June 2025, the Institut Polytechnique de Lyon (IPL) took part in two major higher education events: the Colloque de l’accueil des étudiants internationaux (International Student Welcome Conference) organized by Campus France on June 4-5 in Caen, and the Rencontres Prospectives Internationales (International Prospective Meetings) of AGERA, held on June 19 at CESI Lyon.
These two national and regional events provided an opportunity for exchanging perspectives and practices on welcoming, integrating, and supporting international students. At the heart of the discussions: the mental health of students, a major national issue in 2025.
In Caen, the Colloque de l’accueil organized by Campus France brought together French higher education establishments to discuss the challenges of integrating international students. This event provided an opportunity to exchange views on existing welcome systems, administrative support, and, especially this year, to focus specifically on the mental health of international students, which has become a key priority.
On June 19, during the International Prospective Meetings organized by AGERA, the university health center “Le 102” and the Nightline association presented their concrete actions aimed at one common goal: to listen to students in psychological distress and to support staff in spotting signs of mental health issues. Through a “mental health mural” workshop, participants were made aware of the challenges surrounding student mental health while discovering a tool to better understand, identify, and act in response to fragile situations.
These rich and engaging exchanges reminded us that supporting international students goes beyond just administrative processes. It requires a holistic approach to their academic journey, well-being, and mental health. The Institut Polytechnique de Lyon will pursue its commitment by actively contributing to the creation of a supportive, inclusive environment tailored to the challenges faced by students from all over the world who come to study at its four schools: CPE Lyon, ECAM LaSalle, ISARA, and ITECH.
A look back in photos at IPL’s participation in these two major events:
Campus France Conference – Caen 2025
