UA joins inaugural U.S. Entente Cordiale Challenge

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama is among a select group of institutions chosen to participate in Entente Cordiale Day, a prestigious international academic competition among leading universities in the United Kingdom and France.

UA joins George Washington University, the College of William & Mary, Lafayette College, the University of Virginia and Columbia University as the first American institutions invited to take part.

Entente Cordiale Day takes its name from a 1904 diplomatic agreement between the United Kingdom and France and operates under the joint patronage of King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron. Since its founding, the competition has brought together students from top universities in the United Kingdom and France to tackle pressing global challenges. Six U.S. universities will now join this elite group.

Entente Cordiale Day challenges student teams to research and propose real-world solutions to major global issues, and then to present their work to a panel of international leaders in government, business and academia. For the 2026-2027 challenge, teams will take on the theme "Artificial Intelligence, Power and Ethics."

The theme plays directly to several of UA's fastest-growing strengths. The competition gives students hands-on experience collaborating across borders and disciplines - the kind of practical, future-focused learning UA has prioritized with its investment in programs like the upcoming School of Data Science and the School of Leadership and Policy. The competition also helps expand research capacity through the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership and the University's forthcoming High Performance Computing and Data Center.

"Being selected for the inaugural U.S. Entente Cordiale Challenge is a tremendous opportunity for our students," said UA Provost Lesley Reid. "This experience will allow them to collaborate across disciplines, develop innovative solutions to complex global challenges, and learn alongside peers from some of the world's leading universities. It reflects The University of Alabama's growing strength in data science and leadership."

Students from any major or degree level are eligible to apply, and finalists will be rewarded with a trip to Oxford and the chance to present their proposals to an international panel in 2027. Applications will open early this fall.

Participating in Entente Cordiale Day connects UA students with some of the world's top universities and adds to the University's growing list of international partnerships and opportunities.