Florence Lebois has attended the Junction91 Gathering twice, and will return for a third time in 2027. She spoke to us about what first drew her to India's higher-education landscape, how the Gathering has shaped her thinking on internationalization, and the projects she now wants to build through ALZEA and CEFAM.
What first brought you to the Junction91 Gathering, and why did you return?
My first motivation was a genuine desire to better understand India's higher education landscape and culture, while meeting institutions and professionals in a setting that encourages meaningful conversations and genuine connections.
Girish also played an important role in bringing me to India. I have known him for many years and have always found his vision of internationalization particularly insightful. He consistently encouraged me to look more closely at India and to explore the opportunities for developing meaningful cooperation with Indian institutions.
The intimate format of Junction91 was especially valuable: it gave me the time and space to listen, exchange ideas and begin building relationships. Returning for a second Gathering allowed me to continue those conversations, strengthen emerging partnerships, deepen my understanding of the Indian context and increase awareness of the organizations I represented.
“The intimate format of Junction91 was especially valuable: it gave me the time and space to listen, exchange ideas and begin building relationships.”
What have you gained from these repeated engagements?
Beyond the relationships and opportunities created, Junction91 has genuinely influenced the way I think about internationalization. Girish's perspective, the questions he raises and the way he challenges participants are among the Gathering's greatest strengths. He (and others) encourages us to think outside the box, reconsider our assumptions and explore new and more relevant ways of working together.
I have also evolved professionally since my first participation, through my work with Campus Globers, ALZEA and CEFAM. Today, I have a much clearer understanding of what each organization can bring to India, how they can complement one another, and which types of cooperation would be both relevant and sustainable. Of course, I still have a great deal to learn and that is precisely one of the reasons why these continued engagements are so valuable.
Why do you want to return for a third time in 2027?
Returning for a third time is a way of demonstrating my long-term commitment to India and the seriousness with which I approach the relationships developed there. I want to deepen my engagement with selected partners and move from promising conversations towards concrete, mutually beneficial projects, particularly through ALZEA and CEFAM.
I also hope to strengthen connections with French institutions in India, including the French Consulates and Alliances Françaises, and to continue refining my understanding of how, and why, we can build meaningful initiatives together.
I very much look forward to returning and continuing this journey with the Junction91 community.
