History & Humanism
A historical institution, a century at the service of the French language and its dissemination
The Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne (CCFS) were founded in 1919 with the mission of contributing to peace between peoples by supporting student exchanges. Acting within the framework of the Société des Amis de l’Université de Paris (created in 1899), the CCFS contributed alongside it to ensuring the influence of French higher education.
From 2009, the Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne were placed under the direction of the Fondation Robert de Sorbon, a recognized public benefit foundation. A new legal reorganization in 2021 finally gave rise to the subsidiary Sorbon Langue Française, with the Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne now constituting an SAS, a “mission-driven company.”
History of the CCFS: an institution focused on humanism
The Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne were founded in 1919, the year that also saw the birth of the CIUP (Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris); like the CIUP, the CCFS aimed to promote the re-establishment of fraternity between peoples by supporting international student exchanges. The Société des Amis de l’Université de Paris, under whose leadership the CCFS were created, distinguished itself over time through prestigious representatives: Presidents of the Republic Jean-Casimir Perier and Raymond Poincaré, Nobel Peace Prize winner René Cassin, to name only the most famous.
After the division of the University of Paris in 1970, the structure became the “Société des Amis des Universités de Paris,” an association under the 1901 law recognized as a public benefit organization. In 2009, it underwent a new transformation to give rise to the Fondation Robert de Sorbon. Finally, in 2021, the subsidiary Sorbon Langue Française allowed the Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne to be among the mission-driven companies as defined by the PACTE law. An opportunity to affirm its commitment to promoting the teaching of the French language and civilization.
Current situation of the institution
The structure currently employs approximately 60 people, including around forty permanent teachers and a group of temporary professors. Teachers must at least hold a master’s degree, although some have obtained a doctorate.
Furthermore, the institution distinguishes itself through its labeling initiatives, which confirm the quality of the courses offered by the CCFS: since its first application, it has thus had all the stars awarded within the framework of the various sections of the “Qualité FLE” (French as a Foreign Language) label awarded by France Education International. The CCFS also has “Qualiopi” certification relating to continuing education. Finally, the institution is a member of the ADCUEFE, which brings together French university structures teaching French as a foreign language.
