Order of merit for Vice-Provost Yoan Vilain
Admission to the Ordre des Palmes Académiques is one of the highest honours awarded in France for contributions in the education sector. Yoan Vilain, the Vice-Provost for International and European Affairs at HU, has been appointed a Knight of the Order.
The order of merit was conferred on 17 June in the university's Senate Hall, in the presence of the Cultural Attaché of the French Embassy, the President of HU, and the President of the Franco-German University. With this distinction, the French Republic recognises legal scholar Vilain’s long-standing commitment not only to Franco-German relations but also to European cooperation in the field of higher education.
Recognition for contributions to European higher education
This commitment has been a consistent thread throughout Vilain’s career – from his binational doctorate and subsequent work as an associate researcher at the Centre Marc Bloch, to his role as Academic Director of the integrated Master’s programme of the European Law School at HU’s Faculty of Law. The programme is run in collaboration with Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas, King’s College London, Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Amsterdam. “The awarding of the Palmes Académiques to Yoan Vilain is a special recognition of his dedication to academic cooperation within Europe. I am especially pleased that his longstanding work to foster Franco-German relations at Humboldt-Universität is also being acknowledged, and I warmly congratulate him,” said HU President Julia von Blumenthal on the occasion of the award ceremony.
Strong commitment to international programmes
Vilain continues to pursue this commitment in his role as Vice-Provost for International and European Affairs. Under his leadership – and with support from the European Commission – HU is advancing innovation and development in the European higher education landscape as part of the Circle U. university alliance, in cooperation with eight partner institutions. Moreover, the International Department, headed by Vilain, coordinates both the International Parliamentary Scholarship and the Franco-German Parliamentary Scholarship in partnership with the German Bundestag. Since 2020, Vilain has also been teaching at the renowned French university Sciences Po in Paris and Strasbourg.
The Ordre des Palmes Académiques was established in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Appointments are made by the French Ministry of National Education and Youth.
18.06.2025