Created in the 19th century, Alliance Française relies now on a large network of 960 centers, established in 120 countries, delivering courses to a total of 460 000 students. This important presence enables Alliance Française to fulfill its three main missions:
- – Providing courses of French as a foreign language, both in France and abroad, which are accessible to everybody;
- – Promoting the culture of France and of French-speaking countries;
- – Encouraging all forms of cultural interactions.
All Alliances are legally and intellectually tied to Fondation Alliance Française, established on July 2007. Most notably, this tie is expressed by the Alliances’ commitment to a set of common principles and values. This include strict political or religious neutrality. Yet they enjoy a statutory independence which assures them a large degree of freedom to run their activities. Their creation is often the result of local initiatives and they abide by the law of the country where they are located. Each Alliance is therefore run by a board of trustees, the director being the executive officer.
Alliance française aims at being self sufficient but remains supported the French Ministry in terms of HR resources and subsidies.
