Ahram Online: From your perspective, how are international relations evolving, and what does this mean for the next generation of policymakers?
Luis Vassy: We are clearly living through a major transformation in international relations. The world is becoming more multipolar, strategic competition is intensifying, and crises are increasingly interconnected—geopolitical, economic, environmental, and technological at the same time. This makes leadership far more complex than it was even a decade ago.
Future policymakers must therefore be trained not only to understand national interests, but also to manage interdependence, cope with uncertainty, and build cooperation across regions and cultures. Institutions like Sciences Po have a responsibility to prepare students to think globally, critically, and pragmatically in this environment.
Ahram Online: How do you assess the current state of the Middle East and the Mediterranean region?
Vassy: The Middle East and the Mediterranean sit at the heart of many of today’s global dynamics—from security and economic transformation to climate change and migration. These regions are also bound by deep historical ties, extraordinary cultural richness, and immense human potential.
What we are witnessing is a period of profound transition, marked by both serious challenges and real opportunities. Understanding this complexity requires strong academic expertise, sustained dialogue, and international cooperation, particularly between Europe, the Arab world, and Africa.
Ahram Online: You have often emphasized international exposure as essential for future leaders. Why is this more important now than ever?
Vassy: The real question today is simple: how can someone lead in today’s world without being internationally oriented? The global landscape is volatile and interconnected. Leaders must understand other societies, work across borders, and grasp different political, economic, and cultural frameworks.
I genuinely believe that in today’s world, it is almost impossible to be an effective government leader without a strong international outlook.
Ahram Online: What role can higher education play in addressing the region’s political and social challenges?
Vassy: Universities play a crucial role in producing knowledge, training future leaders, and fostering dialogue. They can act as bridges between societies, providing spaces for critical debate and collaborative research.
In regions like the Middle East and the Mediterranean, where political, economic, and social transitions are ongoing, universities can help build governance capacity, promote inclusive development, and support peaceful cooperation over the long term.
Ahram Online: How significant was the French–Egyptian Day of Higher Education and Research held last week in Paris?
Vassy: It was very important, and it also highlighted how much more we can still do. French institutions, including Sciences Po, are eager to welcome more Egyptian students, who are consistently of very high quality. Egypt is also a strategically important country, not only in the Mediterranean but across Africa.
At the same time, there is strong interest among Sciences Po students in spending their exchange year in Egypt. We are actively working to increase student exchanges with Egyptian partners, including Cairo University.
Ahram Online: How do you see the future of academic cooperation between France and Egypt?
Vassy: I am genuinely optimistic. A strong foundation already exists, and initiatives like the French–Egyptian Day of Higher Education and Research show a clear mutual willingness to deepen cooperation.
Egypt has excellent universities, talented students, and a growing research ecosystem. France brings strong academic institutions and a long tradition of Mediterranean cooperation. By expanding student exchanges, joint degrees, and collaborative research, we can build a partnership that benefits both countries and contributes to regional and global stability.
Ahram Online : Sciences Po has a long-standing reputation in France and internationally. How would you define its mission today?
Vassy: Sciences Po was founded around 150 years ago as a place to train future French leaders. Over recent decades, with nearly half of our students coming from outside France, that mission has become truly global.
We are proud to count figures such as Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former UN secretary-general, among our alumni. Our approach is interdisciplinary—combining history, law, political science, quantitative skills, and more—to help students develop the analytical depth and strategic judgment needed to make sound decisions in complex situations.
Ahram Online : How central is the international dimension to your educational model?
Vassy: It is absolutely central. All our students spend a full year studying abroad, and we welcome a large number of exchange students from around the world. We also offer the option to study entirely in English across our programmes, which creates a vibrant and diverse academic environment.
We currently maintain around 500 academic partnerships worldwide in education and research, including several in Egypt—and we expect that number to grow.
Ahram Online: Finally, what role can academic diplomacy play in a more fragmented world?
Vassy: In a world that is increasingly divided, we need institutions that keep bridges open. Ideas will continue to circulate across borders, even when politics becomes more polarized. Universities have a vital role in sustaining dialogue, knowledge exchange, and mutual understanding.
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