Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Howard University establish a strategic partnership

Starting in 2024, this agreement will provide opportunities for students from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Howard University, from undergraduate to PhD level, to study or engage in research activities in France and the United States. Additionally, faculty members will benefit from collaborative prospects to develop new training and research activities, including co-direction and co-supervision of theses, joint publications, as well as international conferences and seminars. The agreement also includes exchanges of practices to strengthen the skills of administrative staff members from both universities. Key areas of collaboration between the two institutions will encompass economics, geography, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science and sociology.

Beyond these shared academic fields, the collaboration between Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Howard University has been facilitated by a set of common values. "Both our institutions strive to encourage critical thinking, civic engagement, and awareness of social, economic, and political issues, with a view to educating students to become responsible and committed citizens", emphasizes Christine Neau-Leduc. 

This partnership marks a significant milestone as the first large-scale exchange programme between a French university and Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences. It represents the American faculty's first initiative of this kind aimed at developing not only the international mobility of its administrative staff and faculty members but also the organisation of joint academic events. Howard University also becomes the very first university based in Washington D.C. to establish a partnership with Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. This cooperation agreement between the two institutions is a major step forward in strengthening their French-American academic ties and reflects their shared commitment to promoting high-quality higher education and research that meets the challenges of the modern world.

The delegation from Howard University consisted of the Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as several administrative staff members. Four students, including members of COAS' Flagship Ambassador Program - which enables student ambassadors to benefit from unique opportunities to promote and represent their faculty while enhancing their skills - also had the opportunity to take part in the meetings. From 26^th to 29^th June, the representatives of the American delegation were welcomed at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where they had the chance to discover some of the university's locations, meet their counterparts and engage in fruitful discussions with several researchers during a series of sessions dedicated to common research topics such as social justice, inequality and sustainable development.