What are the "Grandes Ecoles"

 

 

Higher education system in France comprises universities and other institutions called the « Grandes Ecoles ». Part of the system are also the « classes préparatoires », which are specific undergraduate programmes preparing for the Grandes Ecoles.

Their Origin

Whereas in the Middle-Ages the University was essentially in charge of higher education, during the Renaissance the royal power felt the need to create more specialised institutions outside the university system. This trend became particularly strong in the 18th century, when new techniques appeared and corps of first military then civil engineers were created.

Thus the Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées was born in 1747, the Ecole du Génie Militaire in 1748 and the Ecole des Mines in 1783. The Revolution founded the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers and the Ecole Polytechnique in 1794. Other « Grandes Ecoles » providing a more and more diversified engineering training were to be founded throughout the 19th century both in Paris and in the province.

The first Grandes Ecoles of management appeared at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.

Nowadays over 60 % of the managing directors and the chief executives in ­France's 100 largest firms are graduates of the "Grandes Ecoles"­(GE). Broad courses of study enable them to assume top positions ­and offer them different career possibilities.

Their main features

They are higher educational institutions, that award degrees after the "baccalauréat" ­ (secondary school diploma) + 5 or 6 years of study :

• in engineering : the « diplôme d'ingénieur », (equivalent to a Master of Engineering) accredited by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieurs, created in 1934 ;

• in management : the « diplôme de Grande Ecole » (in management, commerce or business administration) accredited by the Commission des Formations et des Diplômes de Gestion ;

• in other specialities such as in Ecoles Normales Supérieures, Ecole Nationale d'Administration, Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Economique, Ecoles Nationales Vétérinaires.

Although they have a large autonomy and their own educational projects, beyond their different programmes, the Grandes Ecoles bear witness to a real unity in the design of a common educational system.

This convergence as to their mission towards the community, their educational and cultural references, is expressed by a few common features, which are typical of the French system :

• small size establishments : a « Grande Ecole » is usually as big as a university department, with 400 yearly graduates at the utmost. Some Grandes Ecoles or groups of Grandes Ecoles (such as Instituts Nationaux Polytechniques) with over 4000 students are comparable to a university ;

• highly selective admission process : this requirement makes the Grandes Ecoles very competitive and can lead to a hierarchy following relatively steady criteria. Admission is based on a nation-wide examination or on records ;

• long studies (4 to 6 years), broad-based and general (except in specialised Grandes Ecoles) with a strong emphasis on basic knowledge in the core disciplines, a multidisciplinary approach and the acquisition of working methods and tools ;

• mobility and various backgrounds of the teaching staff : beside permanent faculty, composed of academic experts, guest and visiting lecturers coming from industry, consultancies and the professions guarantee openness and efficiency ;

• integrated and flexible education methods : based on lectures but also on small class work, case study, individual or team projects, on the growing use of new methods and tools such as computers, audio-visual, language laboratories, information and communication technologies, data bases etc..

• traditional close ties with industries and freely negotiated contracts with private and public companies enabling cooperation mainly in two fields :

  1. student training and school life :

  - definition of the needs and necessary skills, participation in councils, programme shaping

  - organisation of internships at different levels, final year project, sandwich-courses.

  2. Innovation and valorisation of new products and processes :

  - research contracts and technology transfer

  - participation in and piloting of « nurseries » or « incubators ».

• Research activities : laboratories, tutoring of PhD students
  
  
• European and international focus through :

  - a strong emphasis on foreign language studies and the knowledge of foreign cultures (at least 2 foreign languages are usually required),

  - studies and internships abroad, extensive one-year studies in a foreign university integrated into the curriculum of the home institution,

  - the setting up of European and international networks, allowing the exchange of students and faculty members, as well as the recruitment of foreign students,

  - the development of cooperation in scientific and technological research between the French Grandes Ecoles and their foreign partners.

  
  

Through their increased cooperation with the industrial and business community the Grandes Ecoles are going through a phase of rapid internationalisation, with the reinforcement of their research potential and the diversification of their education methods.