The anticipated impact of IMT’s participation in the Erasmus + program
1. Increase qualification levels with the aim of training the graduates and researchers that Europe needs
The Erasmus + program facilitates the integration of foreign students in our training programs and enables us to offer our students a multicultural learning environment, thus preparing them to work as engineers and/or managers in today’s decidedly globalized context. It also trains the bi-cultural engineers our companies need to develop internationally.
The Erasmus+ program helps relieve budgetary constraints related to the compulsory period abroad of at least one semester for IMT students. It provides a reassuring framework for institutions, students and their parents.
The Erasmus + program also helps develop a sense of belonging to Europe. It trains engineers that are open to other cultures and who often represent a “humanist” approach.
IMT also encourages professor mobility. In this area, the Erasmus + program does the following:
- complements IMT’s internal incentive schemes (trips made by staff are considered as part of their assessment)
- it enables professors to “test out” international mobility through short trips
- enables professors to discover other teaching practices and helps IMT progress in its educational methods.
2. Improve the quality and enhance the relevance of higher education
IMT research professors are experts and/or assessors for the Commission du Titre d’Ingénieur (CTI), the French engineering accreditation board. They participate in the work carried out by the CTI with the ENQA and ECA (notably including the European project CeQuInt). The following actions are carried out in order to improve the quality and enhance the relevance of our training:
- internal think-tanks meet regularly,
- surveys on the employment context are carried out (career observatory),
- prospective studies are carried out (for example, the 2030 engineer study),
- training seminars on educational methods are organized,
- a 10 million-euro MOOC program has been established.
3. Improving quality through mobility and international cooperation
The Erasmus + program has enabled IMT to exchange with its partners on educational practices and create research collaborations. By facilitating international mobility, the Erasmus + program clearly contributes to cultural openness and a heightened sense of social responsibility (ethics, sustainable development etc.) among participants. These are very important values for IMT.
The Erasmus + program requires rigorous standards in project management, quality of the programs and customer relations. At IMT, the quality of processes has been notably improved through these requirements.
IMT’s general management board has committed to training administrative staff on a corporate level in the area of intercultural awareness. This strategy is part of a policy for improving the welcome provided to international visitors to IMT.
4. Activating the knowledge triangle: establishing the link between higher education, research and companies to promote excellence and regional development
IMT is an EPSCP (Scientific, Cultural and Professional Public Institution) under the aegis of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Electronic Communications. Its missions include higher education (training engineers, managers and PhD candidates), scientific and technological research, technology transfer and support for innovation and economic development in areas related to industry and services.
For this reason, research at IMT is naturally geared toward industry (€100 million in revenue every year – top in France). IMT’s governing bodies include CAC 40 executives. Over 30% of the staff involved in training are from the business world. Business staff are systematically involved in defining the assessment for our programs, as well as in internships and PhD thesis presentations, and 50% of IMT PhD graduates find employment in the business world.
Throughout their studies, students may benefit from basic programs to raise awareness on innovation, as well as comprehensive courses that involve creating an innovation project or a start-up. IMT encourages entrepreneurship based on the results of its research. It hosts several incubators.
IMT research centers contribute to local companies’ R&D work, particularly SMEs, in the regions where it is located. Students also contribute to the regions’ economic development through their internships (9 to 12 months of their education).
5. Improving governance and financing
Although international members are already involved in a few of IMT’s strategic orientation committees, greater international representation within governing bodies is being considered.