Under the patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, the Palmes du Réseau d’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger (EFE) represent a unique moment of collective recognition for the institutions and individuals shaping French education around the world.
As a true laboratory of educational innovation and collaborative projects, the Palmes aim to shed light on impactful, yet often under-recognized, initiatives that promote the quality, diversity, and inclusiveness of the French international school network.
🎓 A Committed and Inspiring Initiative
Presented by the ReflexeS platform, the Palmes were created to honor the dedication, creativity, and achievements of schools abroad—regardless of size. Too often, innovative and community-driven efforts go unnoticed, despite their tangible impact on students and educators. This event provides a prestigious and unifying platform to celebrate and share these stories with the wider world.
🌍 Seven Themes to Promote Educational Innovation
To ensure fair and relevant evaluation, the Palmes are awarded across seven thematic categories, each designed to recognize meaningful collective action in response to contemporary educational challenges:
1. Inclusion
Honors initiatives that promote diversity and accessibility, ensuring all students can fully participate.
Example: staff training, accessible learning environments
2. Fight Against Discrimination
Recognizes efforts to foster respect, tolerance, and understanding among students from diverse backgrounds.
Example: debates, cultural film screenings, peer mediation programs
3. Innovative Action
Celebrates bold and creative educational practices that reshape teaching and school organization.
Example: outdoor classrooms, escape games, philosophy workshops for young learners
4. Cultural Action
Supports initiatives that connect French and host-country cultures and make the arts accessible to all students.
Example: school exhibitions, creative partnerships, art awareness campaigns
5. Language Promotion and/or Openness to the Host Country
Rewards programs that enrich linguistic ability and deepen local cultural immersion.
Example: language exchanges, bilingual workshops, thematic culture weeks
6. Orientation
Acknowledges guidance initiatives that help students plan for their academic and professional futures, involving families and industry professionals.
Example: career fairs, mentorship programs, company visits
7. Community Engagement
Shines a light on collaborative projects led by associations, parent groups, or school boards that strengthen community bonds.
Example: charity events, volunteering programs, community-building campaigns
🤝 Exceptional Sponsors: A Mark of Trust and Prestige
The success and visibility of the EFE Palmes are reinforced by the support of prestigious sponsors, each committed to educational excellence in their domain:
- Education Index – Palme for Inclusion
- MAIF – Palme for the Fight Against Discrimination
- EDHEC Business School – Palme for Innovative Action
- LDE – Palme for Cultural Action
- Panthéon-Sorbonne University – Palme for Orientation
- Transatlantic Bank – Palme for Community Engagement
- Language Promotion and Cultural Openness – supported by leading international partners
Their involvement ensures broad visibility and institutional credibility for the winning projects.
📅 Save the Date: March 13, 2025
The first edition of the EFE Palmes will take place on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6:45 PM in the Grand Amphitheater of the Sorbonne, Paris. The event will also be broadcast live via the ReflexeS YouTube channel to ensure accessibility for schools and communities around the world.
This inspiring evening will include:
- A prestigious awards ceremony recognizing the most impactful initiatives
- A rich program of talks and workshops for education professionals
- Opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among educators, students, parents, and institutional partners
✨ More Than an Awards Ceremony
With a clear focus on inclusion, innovation, and collective engagement, the EFE Palmes celebrate more than just academic excellence. They highlight the human and civic values that are central to the strength and future of French education abroad.
This new annual gathering invites us to rethink educational practices, promote diversity, and shape a shared, inclusive future for our children—wherever they learn and grow.
📣 Join the Movement
The Palmes of the French Education Network Abroad are a bold step forward in showcasing and celebrating the global impact of French education. With clearly defined themes, trusted institutional partners, and a commitment to excellence, this event lays the foundation for a brighter, more innovative, and more inclusive educational future.