Every year, during what we call "Pre-Semester Week," the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) proudly welcomes its newest cohort with a week full of activities and events to start the academic year.

This year, we have been pleased to welcome 860 students to our Parisian campus, including the very first cohort of our Master in Technology and Global Affairs . This impressive number reaffirms both our attractiveness to students worldwide and our position as the largest school of international affairs. 

The week was filled with a dynamic and engaging program, featuring everything from French language courses and team-building workshops to an inspiring Inaugural lesson by Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

While English is the main language of study at PSIA and proficiency in French is not required, we encourage our students to embrace the French language. To support this, we offer an optional French language course during the semester, as well as an intensive French program during Pre-Semester Week.

The team-building workshops are a must for all new students. As a leading school of international affairs, we are committed to instilling the values of collaboration, leadership, and decision-making in our students. 

During these workshops, students are grouped by their academic programs to engage in activities that develop these critical skills. Not only do these sessions foster valuable teamwork and leadership abilities (even with some unconventional tools), but they also provide a fantastic opportunity for students who will be studying together for one or two years to connect and build friendships.

Pre-Semester Week is also a time for essential information sessions, where students are briefed on their academic requirements, the importance of academic integrity and reminded of Sciences Po's strong commitment to combatting discrimination and gender-based violence. These sessions reinforce our shared values and ensure that every student understands their role in fostering an inclusive and respectful community.

PSIA's Dean, Arancha González, welcomed the incoming students with a powerful message about the importance of listening and respect by reminding them that  “At the end of the day, that you are not caught in a binary thinking or in polarisation — between ‘the world as is’ or ‘the world as we wished it to be’ – but that you remember that the world will be what YOU and WE make of it.”

Finally, we had the honor of welcoming Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, who delivered the PSIA Inaugural Lesson.

In the historic amphitheatre Boutmy, the PSIA Class of 2027 engaged directly with EVP Ribera under the moderation of Dean González EVP Ribera, who was one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement and is a leading voice behind the European Green Deal, explained that: “Europe is a need, a dream, a permanent unachieved goal… an asset, a value, a reason to stand up. It is something that we need to fight for.” She also insisted that “staying silent in the face of injustice, lowering our standards, accepting dependence, or compromising on our values is not an option. And should not be something to accept in the future. “

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, her message was clear: climate is no longer just an environmental issue but a matter of geopolitics, security, prosperity, and justice. 

You can check the full Inaugural Lesson on Conférence Sciences Po

We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2027 to Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs. Here’s to an inspiring and transformative journey ahead!