Our projects
Education
Inalco offers one of the richest and most internationally recognized programs in languages and civilizations, with 106 languages and cultural areas taught across various professional pathways.
Nearly 9,000 students benefit from a high-quality education rooted in cutting-edge research and designed to foster professional success.
SPOTLIGHT - The Mooré MOOC
With support from the Foundation, Inalco has expanded its offering of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) by adding Mooré, a language of the Gur group within the Niger-Congo language family. Mooré is spoken by the Mossi people, the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, and is also present in regions of Mali and Ghana with Mossi communities.
Launched in 2017, these MOOCs are free, online courses available for six to seven weeks. They reflect Inalco’s commitment to innovation, the renewal of teaching practices, and ongoing pedagogical reflection in higher education.
OTHER EDUCATION PROJECTS
Research
Inalco is a leading center for research on the languages, societies, and histories of Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. This work is part of what we call area studies—a multidisciplinary approach that includes geography, politics, institutions, and social dynamics.
Inalco’s legacy as a hub of linguistic expertise fuels cutting-edge research in language sciences, supported by a vibrant academic community of 1,250 faculty and researchers across 14 research labs, including several in partnership with the CNRS.
SPOTLIGHT - The Buddhist Studies Chair
In 2021, Inalco launched a dedicated chair in Buddhist Studies in the Modern Chinese World, led by Professor Ji Zhe—a leading sociologist of religion in modern and contemporary China, affiliated with both the French Research Institute on East Asia (IFRAE) and Inalco’s Department of Chinese Studies. He also co-founded and directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Buddhist Studies (CEIB).
In 2023, the Inalco Foundation proudly welcomed a new partner, GS Charity Foundation Limited, joining the Tzu Chi Foundation and the Sheng Yen Education Foundation to strengthen research and academic activity in this field.
Society
In an ever-evolving global context, Inalco equips society with tools for independent thinking and informed decision-making. Through its academic expertise, the university contributes to public debate and civic engagement, both in France and across Europe.
Its mission is rooted in a commitment to scientific integrity, the protection of people and knowledge, cultural dialogue, and equal rights and opportunities for all.
SPOTLIGHT - Supporting Students in Exile
Inalco created the Passerelle University Diploma, a two-year program designed to support students in exile. Through the Urgence Afghanistan emergency campaign, the Foundation awarded scholarships that enabled three Afghan students to enroll in this program.
I’m happy to share my experience of being in France during this time. I began the second semester of the DU Passerelle in January 2022 to improve my French. I also enrolled in the ‘Hospitality, Mediation, Migrations’ university diploma at Inalco for 2022–2023 and successfully completed it. From July 2022 to April 2023, I did a civic service placement with Pour une planète sans frontière, and from February to April 2023, I interned at La Cimade as an intercultural mediator. For 2023–2024, I applied to Inalco’s Master's program in International Relations and am currently waiting for the result.
Testimony from Tahmina, beneficiary of the "Urgence Afghanistan" campaign
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