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Humanities and social sciences
Introduction to the Corporate Environment
Staff (Year 1 - 30 hours)
Students undertake the detailed study of a company of their choice in order to familiarize themselves with the economic realities of the corporate environment. They are encouraged to obtain information through contacts with employees and site visits.
Social Science Modules
Staff (Years 1 - 36 hours; Year 2 - 18 hours)
The aim of these modules is to facilitate the transition to industry and to provide exposure to corporate culture. Emphasis is placed on the study of human behavior. Through participation in these modules, the student should acquire a better knowledge of him- or herself, and become aware of his or her responsibilities in the business world. Topics covered introduce students to interpersonal relationships, examine the theory of communication, and provide insights into how to handle meetings effectively, resolve conflicts and solve problems. The modules are held over periods of three days, two sessions in the first year and one in the second year, with groups of fifteen students.
There are two types of modules in the Common Core:
… acquiring knowledge of self
… communication and relationships within a group
Spotlight Study
Staff (Years 1 and 2 - 20 hours annually)
This study is conducted over a period of two years in the tutorial groups, under the supervision of the tutors. After visits to factories, students decideóin agreement with a company representativeóon a technically complex object to be studied. Teams of two to three students study one particular aspect of the object and present their findings to classmates and tutors at monthly meeting; there is a final presentation at the end of each school year before a committee including the company representative. Students are expected to devote about twenty hours per year to the study, in addition to the scheduled meetings.
Business Simulation
Staff (Year 2 - 30 hours)
Teams of five to six students participate in computer simulations of business situations. The simulation games cover a period of four days and place students in a situation where they make decisions about production, quality, marketing strategies, human resources, financial management, etc. The various company teams are in competition with one another. The aim of this exercise is to better understand intra-company interactions and to experience teamwork.
Contacts with Industry: Work Experience and Internships
Contacts with industry exist at all levels:
… Factory visits accompanied by practicing in-house engineers (First year: 1 day).
… Unskilled work placements (First year: 6 weeks, in France or abroad), where students are required to carry out unskilled work in factories or on construction sites (report and oral examination required).
… Third year placements (three months minimum, in France or abroad), designed to test the studentís performance as an engineer. The student is required to work on a project either in a company as an engineer or in a research laboratory. The student is supervised by an engineer or manager from the host company or laboratory and is required to submit a report which is defended orally before a committee of two members, the host supervisor and a faculty member.
… Experience abroad (any year), six weeks minimum, in a non French-speaking country, the aim of which is immersion in a foreign culture and language. This experience may take the form of graduate study, voluntary work, or an internship in a company or a laboratory.
Cultural Awareness
Staff (Year 1 - 30 hours)
The aim of these activities is to encourage initiative, imagination and awareness in students. Two formats are offered:
… Seminars of a general nature (approach to art, marketing, creating a company, the power and limits of mathematics in experimental science, technology transfer in developing countries, an introduction to corporate law, etc.) These seminars may be taken at another Grande Ecole or University.
… Organization of campus events and services.
S taff (Years 1 and 2 - 45 to 90 hours annually per language depending on level)
The study of English and at least one other foreign language is compulsory. The choice of the second and subsequent languages can be made from among: German, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and French as a foreign language. It is also possible to take classes in one of the Scandinavian languages or Finnish at the appropriate cultural centers in Paris. Beginners classes are available in all foreign languages listed above except French.
A minimum level in both English (550 points on the TOEFL, or a pass in any of the examinations listed below) and in a second language is required by the end of the final year.
English classes include preparation for the following examinations: Cambridge FCE, CAE and CPE, the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce diplomas (normal and superior levels), the Euro-American Business Diploma and the TOEFL and GRE examinations. Technical English, literature and civilization (North American and British), and general English classes are also offered at beginner, intermediate and avanced levels.
General and thematic classes are also available in most of the languages taught. Courses in German, for example, include preparation for the following examinations: ZDAF, ZMP, WIDAF. Examples of thematic classes in German are Economic and Scientific German, or the Cinema, Literature and Civilization of German-speaking countries.
Humanism and Modernity
Prof. Jean-Michel Besnier (Years 1 and 2 - Required Sections: 36 hours)
The first year class presents and discusses the fundamental questions about Man from various viewpoints. A series of seminars covers questions on the philosophy of art, the history of religions, ethics, linguistics, cognitive sciences, literature and geopolitics.
The second year class concentrates on the dialogue between philosophy and science. It describes present and past debates on the notions of time, space, matter and movement, and attempts to evaluate the validity of research that seeks to provide a unified concept of reality. Humanism is approached as the faculty of communication between men, and transcends time and culture.
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