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7/24/2019 Trotignon, Jean Pierre

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THE "n+i" NETWORK: TRAINING ENGINEERS WITH ANINTERNATIONAL VOCATION

Trotignon Jean-Pierre, Director of the "n+i" Network,

Rseau "n+i" / EduFrance, 173 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris (France)[email protected] www.nplusi.com

ENGINEERS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL VOCATION ?

Communication and adaptation, the two keywords

The decision to become an engineer with an international orientation stems from a personalchallenge and requires the discovery or development of significant human qualities.International engineers obviously need to be able to demonstrate solid scientific andtechnical training and also practice English at a level that facilitates communication. This,however, is just the starting point, let say a basic background, in the training of international

engineers, or engineer-managers. The ability to speak the same language, English, does notnecessarily imply mutual understanding; demonstrative examples of this abound. Theengineer has to prove his ability to manage international projects with persons coming from amultiplicity of cultural horizons. And this is not all, the engineer has to demonstrate his

ability to adaptto a world, to technologies, to socio-economic factors in constant evolution,and then demonstrate open-mindedness, an aptitude for dialogue and communicationinside the company with collaborators and staff, as well as within the corporate environment.

As can be seen, the internationally oriented engineer has to demonstrate far more than just atechnical grounding based on pure academic criteria. Most important, he has to demonstrateautonomy, adaptability, creativity, curiosity, a range of human qualities and an ability tocommunicate Let us quote Carlos Ghosn, a graduate engineer from a French school, nowChairman of the car manufacturer Renault-Nissan,

"In today's world, contact is more important than separation, exchange more enriching thanjuxtaposition; confrontation a lesser evil than indifference and isolation. In the world that isunfolding before us, national borders have been called into question by globalisation, culturalfrontiers transcended by multiculturalism and, within companies, operating and functionalborders have given way to cross functional approaches.

This breakdown of frontiers naturally has consequences for the companies of tomorrow:breaking through barriers has become a condition for success. Companies have to act on aplanetary scale, drawing staff from a wide variety of cultures, decompartmentalising as a

means of bringing together complementary talents and intelligences from every type ofbackground.

In this open world, I am convinced that cultural diversity is a key dimension for companies.Choose diversity, it will pay you back a hundredfold. When a company operates on worldmarkets, it is indispensable to take into consideration a wide variety of cultural needs andvalues."

"n+i", a national training course with an international dimension

One sees that, whatever the country considered, academic training is capable of providingengineers with the intellectual resources they need throughout their life and, in particular,

ensures they are able to adapt to constantly evolving situations. This basic training is ofcourse essential, as is the practice of English at a high level. However for this, there is no


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need for travel. Today, practically all countries possess high-quality universities orengineering schools capable of training engineers in the strict "technician" sense of the word.This is the strictly national dimension of "n+i". In the training of engineer-managers with an

international orientation, as offered by the "n+i" Network, the national dimension "n" is justthe beginning, the necessary starting point. Let's now talk of the international dimension of"n+i".

The international engineer faces two more challenges:

learning of the management expertise required in his profession (learn how tomanage teams and international projects),

adapting to a multicultural environment with persons coming from a variety ofcountries, and being capable of integrating the positive aspects.

This vital cultural dimension cannot be learnt at home. Quite simply because it requirespractical experience, and nothing can replace experience through immersion in a foreignenvironment (in every sense of the word), as a way of obtaining a maximum amount ofinformation or perhaps to discover one's own limitations.

This then is the international dimension of "n+i".

What goes for foreign students, also goes for French students which is why the "n+i"Network targets both populations of students, while encouraging French student-engineers to visit foreign countries. Naturally, to discover top-class teaching, but also,above all perhaps, the culture, traditions, history, political and social organisation andinternational role of the country vis ited etc.

Based on this premise, establishments in the "n+i" Network set themselves the task offacilitating this "cultural voyage of discovery" by organising training courses in French andforeign companies and universities.

The "n+i" Network is keen to develop close partnerships with foreign universities, inassociation with French or foreign companies, to ensure it is in a position to offer top flighttraining for future international managers.

The Bologna process, a mechanism for international exchange

University degree courses in Europe (and the world) do not all function on the same model,which makes it difficult to evaluate on a comparative basis the level of studies obtained. Thisis detrimental to student mobility and also complicates the task of degree recognition.

In signing the Bologna declaration, 45 countries in Europe have decided to harmonise theirdegree courses, adopting a joint system of comparison of level of competence, rather than anumber of years for example.

The aim is to enable comparisons and equivalences to be made internationally, encouragingstudent mobility and facilitating access to the European labour market.

By 2010, all universities must have adapted to the European "L(B).M.D" standard: Licence(Bachelor) Degree, Master Degree, Doctorate (PhD)

The new European system is organised on the basis of Teaching Units (TUs), correspondingto a specific educational domain. A university semester comprises five teaching units. The

work of students is evaluated on the basis of credits which reflect a volume of teachinghours, professional activity, training courses and personal work.


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ECTS credits the Euro of university training

Each degree corresponds to a programme comprising a certain number of teaching unitswith a common unit of account: the credit: The European Credit System. A Teaching Units(TU) is equivalent to 6 credits.A full validated year of training corresponds to 10 TUs i.e. 60 credits (Licence with 180credits, Master with 300 credits (or licence + 120 credits), doctorate (PhD) 180 credits on topof a master degree).The ECTS is also referred to as the European Credit Transfer System. Credits can becapitalised and transferred throughout Europe.

An appendix to the degree certificate (supplment au diplme) indicates the type of coursework accomplished and the skills obtained by the student in other countries in the EuropeanUnion.

The new training period organisation will also, and this is a great step forward, enableacquired professional experience to be validated. Encouraging lifetime training!

THE "n+i" NETWORK: STRENGTH THROUGH FEDERATION

"n+i" is a national programme, managed by EduFrance with the support of the Ministryof Education and Minist ry of Foreign Affairs.

The "n+i" Network has set itself the aim of providing a cultural dimension to the training ofengineers with an international orientation. This is summed up with two key words:

communication(going well beyond strict mastery of a common language) and adaptability.This last word sums up the basic philosophy of the Network. It hardly needs saying that,every day, we need to adapt to a fast changing world, politically, technologically, socially,economically We therefore made a decision to challenge students: prove that you are

capable of adapting to a system and not the contrary. Foreign students are integrated withFrench students and obtain the same degree as they do, with the same rights (reducedtuition fees, possibility of employment, access to scholarships, etc.). However, tocompensate for the difficulties represented by such an adaptation process, in particular fornon-French-speaking students, we offer personalised assistance (reception in Paris,housing, insurance, enrolment, tutoring, French courses, a period of cultural and linguisticadaptation etc.). Services of this sort necessitate the combined resources of the variousFrench Engineering schools. The result is that the language handicap becomes lessproblematic and we are able to recruit students with little knowledge of French but highlymotivated to follow this type of training programme.

In 2005, the "n+i" Network will comprise over 60 Top Grandes Ecoles and Engineering

schools in France representative of every area of engineering (from telecommunications toagriculture as well as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering,environmental studies etc., in all more than 250 keywords in the "n+i" website:www.nplusi.com).

The "n+i" Network is aimed at all those involved in the training of engineer-managers (withwhom cooperative agreements can be signed) and who can demonstrate:

their interest in the training of engineers with an international orientation from allaspects,

the importance they attach to the role of higher education and training institutions inthe area of international cooperation and their contribution to social development.

"n+i" SERVICES ?


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Promotion

The "n+i" Network provides information on training to students in the best foreignuniversities. The n+i Internet site provides information on engineering training available inFrance making it possible to rapidly obtain detailed information (search for training bykeyword, information on costs, grants, financing, studies, degrees etc.)..

Recruitment

The "n+i" program is aimed at students who possess at least a Bachelor's degree (4 years)and gives them the possibility of obtaining an Official Masters degree (in France anengineering degree). However it is not just a program of academic exchange as it also offersan in-depth cultural insight into the host country and company.

The "n+i" Network has created an Internet site (www.nplusi.com) which besides providinginformation, enables online recruitment, providing access for "n+i" partners (schools,

foreign universities and companies) to approved student files, via a free login and password.The validation of "electronic" student files by "n+i" is made on the basis of certifiedconformed documents provided by students. "n+i" can therefore make an online selection ofthe students that they would like to assist by proposing training, projects employment andgrants.This service can also be accessed by foreign universities who have signed co-operationagreements with the "n+i" Network. The universities can obtain access to the student files ofFrench candidates.

In 2005, "n+i" Schools will receive, all countries combined, more than 220 student-engineers coming from more than 35 different countries.

Reception

The "n+i" Network provides students with the chance of demonstrating autonomy, creativity,

curiosity, human qualities, an ability to communicate as well as adaptability, however thestudent is not left alone, the "n+i" Network is there to help.

For example, we welcome all students at the airport and then invite them for four days ofsightseeing in Paris. During this period, they discover the French capital and we can talk tothem about living in France, the life they will lead for the next two years.

We then provide them with an intensive French course during the summer months from Julyto September.

By September, they are not yet ready to join French students and follow the same coursesas them. We therefore organise, and this is one of the originalities of the "n+i" Network, acustomised period (from September to February) designed to facilitate cultural, linguistic and

methodological adaptation (the semester of transition) as part of the engineering trainingprogramme.

The Semester of transit ion provides:

confidence building in linguistic, scientific and technological areas:

discovery of teaching and life in France

It is arranged by the "n+i" Network and "customised" for the needs of international students.Students receive personalised assistance from tutors: welcoming, housing assistance,assistance in administrative formalities (enrolments, bank, visas etc.). For maximum


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effectiveness and to reduce costs, this semester is common to several schools providing thesame teaching material. It is arranged in a single establishment chosen by "n+i" partners.

Training

The student has the opportunity of widening his range of skills by going beyond the strict butinescapable scientific and technological aspects of his engineering training, by integratingthe economic, sociological and managerial aspects of his future profession throughprofessional experience and training courses forming an integral part of the FrenchEngineering Degree.

The "n+i" Network is aimed at engineering students that possess at least a Bachelor's

degreeor equivalent. Students can choose between:

a "long" (2 year) courseleading to an Official Master's degree based on European

standards. Studies take place in a Grande Ecole and lead to the prestigious DiplmedIngnieur , the Official Master's degree!

After the six-month transition period, n+i student-engineers enter the Grande Ecole of theirchoice to pursue their studies. In-company training courses and visits to production sitesform part of the training. n+i students follow courses alongside French students and possiblyother international students, and are awarded the same degree, the diplme dingnieur(Official Master's Degree), recognised throughout the world.

a "short" course (1 year) referred to as an "Experience", comprising a semester ofcourses or research in a company or engineering school, or a training period supervised by aprofessor in a company.

From January to June, after the ST, the student chooses a semester between:

Following courses as an outside student in an engineering school,

Pursuing a training period in a company in France or Europe, Pursuing a research activity in an engineering school or company.

This six-month period enables the student to discover a different way of working, thinkingand living, enriching his cultural "experience". This period is noted and can be credited(certificate of transfer of ECTS credits) by the candidate's first university.

Partnerships with companies

International students are quite naturally destined to occupy, in the internationalarena, positions of high responsibility in companies or administrations. French and foreigncompanies can therefore offer assistance to students that they consider best suited to theirprojects during studies by offering training courses, projects, grants, financing andemployment etc..

Candidate Student files can be consulted by partner companies in the "n+i" Network.Offers can be consulted, directly online by students, from their personal page in the "n+i"site.

In 2005, the "n+i" Network offered more than 30 corporate grants to students, worthalmost1 mill ion in f inancing.

Simplified enrolment and search for financing

Collaboration enables simplification of grant searches, financing, training offers, schools etc.A single comprehensive online student enrolment form is available on the "n+I" Internet siteand confirmation sent in the form of a signed "paper" version with attached documentary


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proof (see list in the enrolment file). This enables student files be validated and accessprovided to partners in the Network: French schools, foreign universities and companies etc.

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