On the IFP School campus, students have recently benefited from new spaces, both indoors and outdoors, designed to encourage collaboration and make student life more enjoyable.
They can, for example, have lunch outside at the picnic tables, settle into one of the seating areas in the School’s entrance hall, or take a sports break thanks to the table tennis table, a new addition that complements the table football tables that have been a fixture of the campus for many years.
Since joining the School in 2023, Mélanie Bernard, Student Relations Manager, has been committed to the daily support of students and works to create a welcoming study environment in which quality of student life is a priority.
1. Could you describe your responsibilities at IFP School?
My responsibilities revolve around three areas: student life, events, and community activities.
I am one of the first people students meet when they arrive: I welcome them and then support them in their administrative procedures and campus life. On the events side, I am involved notably at the start of the academic year, supporting the Student Office (Bureau des élèves, BDE) in organizing the Energy Games and the Graduation Ceremony. Each year, I support the Student Office (BDE) in its actions in favor of student life.
I also oversee two cross-cutting services for students: language provision and social welfare support.
2. Since joining the School, what projects have you helped to put in place to better support students?
A year after taking up my post, I proposed to the School’s management that we set up a social welfare service to better welcome and support our students. Student hardship can affect IFP School too: when a student faces financial or housing difficulties, it reduces their chances of academic success. Our priority is to remove these obstacles and secure their academic journey.
A social worker meets with students on campus three days a week. Through their network, students can be referred to the local social action center, a social food bank, and can receive emergency assistance or starter kits for their accommodation. Today, 25% of our students use this service.
In 2025, mental health was designated a “national cause” in France. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, studies have noted a deterioration in young people’s mental health. Programs at the School are demanding and some journeys can be more complex: for example, searching for an internship is often a source of significant anxiety, and international students must manage numerous administrative procedures (such as renewing their residence permit), which adds to their mental load.
In response, the School has established a partnership with Nightline, a student association committed to mental health. In practice, students have access to a listening line by phone or chat, from 9 pm to 2:30 am, staffed by trained student volunteers. The service is anonymous, free of charge, and available in both French and English.
I also manage the language course provision (French as a foreign language and English). Levels of English or French proficiency are among the requirements for obtaining the IFP School degree. We work with an external provider. The work carried out now leads to a TOEIC pass rate of 92%!
For French, students can also attend classes at the end of the day, from Monday to Thursday. Through a partnership with the University of Nanterre, they also have the opportunity to sit the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) during special sessions organized after classes and exclusively reserved for IFP School students.
Finally, we partnered with a Lille-based start-up to install free dispensers of organic sanitary products on campus. The aim: to tackle period poverty and make daily life easier for students.
3. What are the challenges you are currently working on?
Today, declining student engagement is a phenomenon observed in many higher education institutions.
I therefore encourage students to get involved in keeping IFP School alive: by joining the Student Office and/or the teams that organize the School’s flagship events each year. Even if it requires time, especially during periods of heavy academic workload, this involvement is highly formative: team spirit, sense of responsibility, leadership… These are skills that will make a difference throughout their professional lives.
4. What are your upcoming projects?
IFP School is an international school that welcomes nearly 50% international students each year, representing around forty nationalities.
I wish to further strengthen the welcome given to these students, particularly those arriving for the first time. Their needs are specific, and administrative procedures are constantly evolving; which is why I draw on the expertise of Campus France and on sector best practices to ensure that IFP School provides reliable, high-quality support.
Interview conducted by Meyling Siu