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-Universit?t is also being acknowledged, and I warmly congratulate him,” said HU President Julia von Blumenthal on the occasion of the award ceremony.