NT Reporter
Panaji
Dr Irene Silveira Almeida, Assistant Professor in the Discipline of French and Francophone Studies at Goa University, was conferred the Chevalier des Palmes Académiques (French National Order of Academic Palms) on May 25.
The award was presented by Patrick Leverino,
Consul General of France in Mumbai, during a ceremony attended by delegates from the French Institute in India, the French Embassy, France Éducation Internationale, academics from Goa University, and teachers of French from India and neighbouring countries.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with the regional BELC programme at Goa University.
Instituted by Napoleon I in 1808, the Palmes Académiques is one of France’s oldest civilian honours and is awarded to academics and intellectuals in France and abroad who have made significant contributions to education and intellectual culture.
Dr Almeida was recognised for her scholarship and sustained contribution to French education and culture. Her academic interests span French and Francophone literature, diaspora and culture studies, sociolinguistics, didactics, Goa studies and historical representations.
Dr Almeida also served as Pedagogical Director of Alliance Française de Goa from 2006 to 2010 and has been on the faculty of Goa University since 2014. During her career, she has published research papers in national and international journals, presented papers at numerous conferences, and served as a resource person for training sessions and academic programmes. Her doctoral thesis focused on Goan migration to Europe.
