• Top quality academic and vocational education programmes :

The educational system in Alsace is characterised by the quality of its academic and vocational education programmes and the wealth of opportunities it offers in terms of continuing education. Schools and universities offer teaching programmes that are tailored to the needs of business. There are 66,000 students in Alsace, of whom 20% come from abroad.

The close proximity of Germany and German-speaking areas of Switzerland and the past history of Alsace have provided a real spur to foreign language skills within Alsace.

• A university system with a clear international vision :

Alsace has two universities, including Strasbourg University, the biggest in France. Cross-border cooperation is an important element in education here : both universities have signed a joint protocol with the universities of Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Basel within the context of the EUCOR (European Confederation of Upper Rhine Universities). Students and participants on placement in continuing education programmes may make the most of a raft of fully-supervised tri-national courses in the neighbouring countries.

• A wide range of prestigious tertiary level educational establishments :

There are numerous engineering schools (grandes écoles d’ingénieurs), including the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs Sud Alsace (ENSISA – a range of engineering disciplines), the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Mulhouse (ENSCMu – chemical engineering), the Ecole Européenne de chimie, polymères et matériaux de Strasbourg, (Chemicals, polymers and materials engineering), the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Physique de Strasbourg (Physics), the Ecole et observatoire des sciences de la terre de Strasbourg (Earth science), the Ecole de biotechnologies de Strasbourg (Biotechnology), the Institut National des sciences appliquées de Strasbourg (Applied Science) and the Université de technologies de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM – technology and engineering). Together, these offer specialised courses in various fields such as chemistry, physics, biotechnology, environmental science, textiles, civil engineering and materials.

• International educational establishments :

Alsace is also home to several business schools, including the Ecole de Management de Strasbourg, the Strasbourg European Communication School and the ENA (the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, which prepares its students for senior posts in the French civil service).

There are several international schools providing an English or German medium education from primary level onwards, for example :
 The Ecole Européene de France, Strasbourg (trilingual primary and secondary education)
 The International School, Basel (English medium teaching from 3 to 18 years old)
 The Swiss International School Minerva, Basel (English medium teaching for 3 to 18 year olds)
 Rhein International Academy, Weil am Rhein.