Sciences Po

The Institut d'études politiques de Paris ("Paris institute of political studies"), familiarly known as Sciences Po, is France's premier institute for the study and research of politics, international relations, and other related subjects. It is reputed to be continental Europe's most prestigious institute of its kind and is internationally recognized as a leading site of higher learning and research in its discipline.

Related Topics:
France - Institute - Politics - International relations

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The Institute is a grande école — that is, a college of higher education with a restrictive competitive examination for admission. Its alumni are influential in politics and business primarily in France and Europe but also around the world. It is the best place for preparing initial admission to the École Nationale d'Administration.

Related Topics:
Grande école - Politics - Business - École Nationale d'Administration

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As of 2004, approximately one third of its student body was foreign. This abundance of diversity is largely a result of the academic and administrative reforms instituted by Sciences Po's current Director-General, Richard Descoings. These reforms resulted in a program that encourages foreign study, interdisciplinary approaches, and hands-on collaboration with fellow students.

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Instructors at the Institute are only rarely full professors, with that title reserved for a select few. Instead, most instruction is given by professionals from various relevant fields, who agree to teach at the Institute part-time. For instance, former government ministers, defense industry leaders, current diplomats, business leaders, and other career professionals teach during any given

Related Topics:
Professors - Ministers - Defense

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semester. This real-world approach is often cited as a great strength, especially in France's higher education system, which is sometimes criticized as too philosophical and removed from the reality of the post-academic career.

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Other institutes also called Institut d'études politiques exist in other French cities.

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La Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques is Sciences Po's research institution dedicated to many domains of political and social sciences. Areas of excellence include international relations (Centre d'Étude des Relations Internationales - CERI), European contemporary history (Centre Histoire Européenne du Vingtième Siècle - CHEVS), French political life (Centre d'Étude de la VIe POlitique Française - CEVIPOF), sociology (Observatoire Sociologique du Changement - OSC; Centre de Sociologie des Organisations - CSO) and political economy (Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques - OFCE; Service d'Etude de l'Activité Economique - SEAE; Groupement d'Économie mondiale - GEM).

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The Institute is located in rue Saint-Guillaume in the VIIe arrondissement, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of the French capital. The nearest metro stops are Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Rue du Bac, and Sèvres-Babylone.

Related Topics:
VIIe arrondissement - Metro

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