FnAK’s ANNUAL REPORT 2023

FnAK’ annual report 2023 can be downloaded here.
On Tuesday 12 December 2023, the Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler (FnAK) celebrated 30 years of activity at the Palais de l’Institut. Now part of the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CiuP), the FnAK was created by the Académie des Sciences and their relationship is still very close.
At the end of the 7th meeting of its scientific council, three speeches preceded an anniversary cocktail and a tour of this « Parliament of the learned world »:
- Olivier BECHT, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad (recording) ;
- Édouard BRÉZIN, Member of the Académie des sciences, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Fondation Kastler ;
- Catherine MÉNÉZO-MÉREUR, Acting General Delegate of the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris.
FnAK has thus been strengthened in its pursuit of the alumni researcher strategy that it is developing on the model of the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Unlike alumni students, whose supposed sense of belonging to the institution is linked to the awarding of a degree and a certain affection for it, alumni researchers are guided by their career and by the ability of their host institutions to foster their professional development.
The experience of Germany and the United States in the networking essential to such a strategy respects the 5i rule of management, in this order: identify, inform, interest, involve and invest;
- to identify, you need a database, which is why the Kastler Foundation created ALFRED®[1] ;
- informing them is essential, by means of an old-school magazine or newsletter, taking care to target relevant information !
- get them interested: University day, science market, job dating, parent & child, mentoring, etc. ;
- get them involved: boards, faculty; honour them, showcase them, create alumni groups, etc. ;
- Finally, invest: the only way to have a friend is to reward them – that’s the best way to get them to return the favour!
Under the impetus of FnAK and the EURAXESS network, the conditions for welcoming and supporting international researchers in France have improved considerably.
Our ability to keep in touch after their stay in France now depends on our ability to make the most of the networking tools developed by FnAK and the EURAXESS network, particularly for the many international researchers who are called upon to pursue their careers outside the academic sector.
We are most grateful to the French government and the local authorities of the Grand-Est region, who have supported the Kastler Foundation financially and strategically since its creation!
[1] ALFRED® : ALumni and Foreign REsearchers Directory