‘Stepping Stone’ Passport: material and moral support for 61 students
To promote the success of talented young students, Sorbonne University and its foundation are supporting 61 promising students through the Stepping Stone Passport (“Passeport Tremplin”) scholarship program.
Particularly hard hit by the health crisis, Sorbonne University students, like all students in higher education, have just gone through two very difficult years. The Stepping Stone Passport scholarship program offers promising students in difficult situations the opportunity to pursue their studies in better conditions and to benefit from the personalized support of a mentor.
Financed by the university, with the support of the company Onepoint and the individual donors of the Sorbonne University Foundation, this one-time grant of €5,000 is awarded to students based on need and excellence. From chemistry to communication, modern languages, literature and history, as well as mathematics, physics, biology, speech therapy, and medicine, the winners were selected from the Faculties of Arts and Humanities, Medicine, and Science and Engineering.
Offering the keys to success
In addition to financial support, these students will benefit from mentoring by Sorbonne University alumni or volunteer staff from the sponsoring company. The mentoring will begin in January, following a launch event, and will be provided throughout the student's studies, in accordance with his or her professional project, including writing a cover letter, looking for an internship and more. Mentoring brings mentees and mentors together with a common goal: to build pathways to educational and professional success by developing a student experience that travels beyond the walls of the university.
The Stepping Stone Passport scholarship program is a continuation of the foundation's actions, which for several years have been providing support to students at the university.
Maÿlis Seassau, a second-year master's student in Art History and a recipient of the Passport scholarship program since March 2021, says of her her mentoring experience:
"The Passport to a Master’s scholarship program initiated by the Sorbonne University Foundation has an unbeatable advantage. It puts students in contact with a person whose profession is directly related to our scientific, theoretical and practical affinities. As far as I am concerned, the meeting with Juliette Singer, chief curator of the Petit Palais, was particularly enriching. Through her own experiences, her ability to listen and her desire to share her passion, I was able to envisage new ways of learning about art and its history, to broaden the perspectives specific to the discipline I have been studying for the past five years and to observe the salient points of current museographic events through a singular perspective.”
"As a student in a master's degree in computer science, I have had the privilege of benefiting from the Foundation's Passport to a Master's scholarship program and mentoring by a Safran engineer since my first year of studies. This support is first and foremost an opportunity for me because of my passion for the aerospace industry, of which this group is a world leader. Because my tutor belongs to a complex organization like Safran, his advice, shared during our various meetings, helped me to better define my objectives and to acquire an increasingly clear vision of my professional project. Also, his knowledge of the university environment as an alumni of Sorbonne University, meant that our exchanges were very helpful in my student life and in my choice of orientation. After this wonderful experience I had during this mentorship, I encourage everyone to take advantage of such an opportunity!" adds Alaeddine Fennira, recipient of the Passport to a Master’s scholarship program since 2018.
Taking action in the face of an emergency
Through the Stepping Stone scholarship program, Sorbonne University and its foundation are once again strengthening their commitment to students and their future.
"It was important for the Foundation to award scholarships to these deserving students, who have gone through a complicated period and who now need a helping hand to devote themselves fully to their studies and to succeed. The Stepping Stone Passport Scholarship Program is a forward-looking program that emphasizes the importance of access to knowledge and the sharing of knowledge. Bringing together students, alumni and patrons, this program allows the Sorbonne University community to commit to strong values," concludes Solenne Couraye du Parc, Executive Director of the Sorbonne University Foundation.
Funds have also been raised thanks to the support of the company Onepoint and the foundation's individual donors. Muriel Touaty, Education & Innovation Partner at One point says, "As part of the Stepping Stone scholarship program, Onepoint is pleased to award a scholarship to two students from the prestigious Sorbonne University. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to inclusion and resonates with Onepoint's values of supporting students as guarantors of the future." Already involved with the "Welcome to the Future" development campaign through David Layani, founder and president of Onepoint and member of the campaign committee, Onepoint is now joining the foundation's community of patrons.
Combining financial support and mentoring, the Stepping Stone scholarship program offers a real boost to students at the university.
Fondation Sorbonne University Foundation
The Sorbonne University Foundation works to develop concrete solutions to major societal issues and uphold the academic influence of Sorbonne University. It acts in favor of the national and international appeal of the university, of the full mobilization of its community, including its graduates, and of an increased synergy with the economic world.
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