Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Ordre des Palmes Académiques

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Type
  
Order of Merit

Status
  
Currently constituted

Ordre des Palmes Académiques

Awarded for
  
Distinguished contributions to education or culture

Grand Master
  
President François Hollande

Chancellor
  
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, The Minister of National Education

Grades
  
Commander, 1st Class Officer, 2nd Class Member, 3rd Class

The Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms) is a national order of France for distinguished academics and figures in the world of culture and education. Originally a decoration founded by Emperor Napoléon to honour eminent members of the University of Paris, it was changed into its current form as an Order on 4 October 1955 by President René Coty.

Contents

Decoration

The early Palmes académiques was instituted on 17 March 1808 and was bestowed only upon teachers or professors. In 1850 the decoration was divided into two known classes:

  • Officier de l'Instruction Publique (Golden Palms).
  • Officier d'Académie (Silver Palms).

    • In 1866, the scope of the award was widened to include major contributions to French national education and culture made by anyone, including foreigners. It was also made available to any French expatriates making major contributions to the expansion of French culture throughout the rest of the world.

    Order

    Since 1955, the Ordre des Palmes académiques has comprised three grades, each grade having a fixed number of recipients:

  • Commander — gold cross of 60 mm with a coronet ("couronne") worn on necklet.
  • Officer — gold cross of 55 mm worn on ribbon with rosette on left breast.
  • Member — silver cross of 50 mm worn on ribbon on left breast.

    • Decisions on nominations and promotions are decided by the Minister of Education. For those not connected to state-sponsored public education, or the Ministry of National Education, these honours are announced on 1 January, New Year's Day. For all others, they are made on 14 July, which is French National Day.

    Foreign recipients

    See the List of Foreign recipients of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

  • Bruno Bernard, Belgian author dictionary French foreign languages
  • Francis L. Lawrence (1937–2013), classical drama and baroque poetry scholar, President of Rutgers University (1990–2002)
  • Ali-Akbar Siassi, Iranian intellectual, psychologist and politician during the 1930s and 1960s, serving as the country's Foreign Minister, Minister of Education, Chancellor of University of Tehran, and Minister of State without portfolio.
  • Javad Tabatabai, Iranian thinker
  • Ahmad Kamyabi Mask, Iranian littérateur
  • Léopold Sédar Senghor
  • Buddy Wentworth, Namibian politician, for his contributions to the Namibian independence struggle

    • References

    Ordre des Palmes Académiques Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA