Diversity at Paristech: a Value to Be Celebrated

October 2020 THE NEWSLETTER N°8 #Connect #Innovate #Share FEATURED Diversity at ParisTech: A value to be celebrated CHRISTIAN LERMINIAUX President of ParisTech EDITORIAL Despite the ongoing health crisis, the new academic year has got off to a good start across the ParisTech schools. The schools and their staff have worked tremendously hard to ensure that students have access to high-quality teaching in a safe environment. Blended learning has been introduced, with students alternating between face-to-face classes and online sessions as necessary in order to limit numbers on the campuses. International students too have taken up their places – a sign Arts et Métiers © that the ParisTech schools continue to enjoy a solid reputation on the The ParisTech schools prepare origin), disability diversity and world stage. The grandes écoles LAURENT CHAMPANEY Director general of Arts et Métiers young people for their future gender and sexuality diversity. entrance examinations went ahead Institute of Technology and President careers. It is vital that students as planned, and we were pleased of the Diversity Commission receive training in diversity We’ve done a lot to make all to see that candidates were management so that once they these kinds of diversity a reality, in as motivated as ever in spite graduate, they are able to promote particular with regard to recruitment. of the unprecedented crisis A year ago you were appointed and manage diversity in their To increase cultural diversity, we are all facing. President of the ParisTech Diversity Commission. What are you doing organisation. we’ve stepped up our international One of the core values of the to address the issue of diversity? recruitment efforts and are already ParisTech schools is diversity, Within the Diversity Commission, seeing the results – on average, and in the midst of these uncertain All of the ParisTech schools the underlying question that guides international students now account times the schools are keener are committed to training highly our actions is this: how should we for 30% of the student body across than ever to provide an inclusive, competent, multi-skilled engineers. approach and manage diversity the network. diverse environment. Diversity is a That’s what brings them together. in the ParisTech schools? We are transverse value which underpins Students are taught in a research aware that there is still a great deal By presenting our courses to all of our decisions and actions. environment that is both French to be done. But we’re moving secondary and high school pupils Our network thrives because the and international and will go on in the right direction. and aiming to cultivate their interest schools offer complementary areas to hold top management positions in STEM subjects, and by offering of expertise and welcome staff once they graduate. But managing What are the main challenges financial support to those who most and students from a wide range an organisation means managing related to diversity? need it, we hope to attract students of different backgrounds. Pursuing people, and that in turn means from a wider range of social diversity pushes us to be agile dealing with diversity and all Diversity comes in many shapes backgrounds. We’re also working to and show that we can adapt. the opportunities and challenges and forms: social diversity, cultural inspire more girls to pursue that come with it. diversity (language and ethnic careers in engineering. Our first goal is therefore to increase Chimie ParisTech, AgroParisTech Apprenticeships also help foster a strength, but they face challenges diversity, because it enriches our and Arts & Métiers. diversity in the schools, but before in this respect. They do their best community. The second is to students get here, they don’t to inform and train their employees, ensure that diversity is respected Finally, we’re also in the process realise that we run apprenticeship but expectations and perceptions and appreciated. of creating a Chair for Diversity. programmes. We need to change very quickly, and training communicate better. And we also methods that worked previously What actions have you How do you plan to make need to encourage students from become outdated and unsuitable. implemented at ParisTech the schools more accessible to our apprenticeship programmes and in the schools? students from all backgrounds? to share their experiences with The chair’s corporate partners the next generation. will be able to test their training Since I took on this role, we’ve It’s complicated, because materials on our students – the continued working on projects that the schools recruit most of their There’s been a lot in the press managers of tomorrow – in a context foster a culture of diversity across students via the CPGE route lately about harassment that is similar to their own. the schools. In 2019, the Diversity (intensive courses that prepare in higher education institutions. We believe the activities will be Commission organised a workshop students to take the competitive How are you tackling inspiring and beneficial for students on gender equality to look at what entrance exams for admission to this issue? too, as they will have the chance steps could be taken to address the grandes écoles), where there to truly engage with the topic the issue of sexual harassment. is a notable lack of diversity. It’s a complicated topic, and it’s and share their own views. Based on the discussions, we put To address this, we’ve set up true that harassment seems to be together a booklet of actions aimed alternative entry routes and we more prevalent in grandes écoles A representative from each at preventing sexual harassment. recruit students internationally, than in universities. The difference company will attend the sessions It’s essential that we create a but it’s not enough. We need to probably stems from the fact that to analyse how the students use supportive environment where do more. We need to think about students at grandes écoles are in and respond to the training tools. victims feel safe and know they how we can inform pupils about a smaller bubble. There’s more of If the resources and role plays prove will be taken seriously. their options earlier on. How can a “class spirit”, and much of student to be unsuitable, changes will be we convince them that they have life takes place on campus. Sadly, suggested and new versions will Another workshop was held just the skills they need to apply to the harassment is more likely to occur be tested in the same context before lockdown, this time focusing grandes écoles, irrespective of their in that kind of environment. the following year. on diversity. Students and staff gender or social background? (both administrative and academic) We need to inform and train There’s potential for companies from came together to talk about their It’s also important that we look students so that they’re more aware all kinds of sectors to get involved, experiences of diversity and related at ways to get more girls into of these issues. And I think that because the ParisTech schools issues. The student participants engineering. There’s a lot of applies to alumni too. They need cover multiple areas of expertise. included men, women, international groundwork to be done. It means to understand that certain activities This in turn means we will be able students, French students, going into secondary schools and behaviours they engaged to tackle a variety of topics and LGBT students and students and high schools to talk to pupils – in during their studies were not refine our ideas. The chair will help with disabilities – a reflection and that’s no small undertaking. acceptable. Other than raising us boost diversity in the ParisTech of the diversity of our community. One example of an association awareness, of course there is a schools and encourage companies Moreover, some had also taken the that’s doing a great job in this need for sanctions too. We can’t to open up about this topic. time to interview their classmates. respect is “Elles bougent” ignore things just because they’re Each of the schools used the ideas (Women on the Move). “tolerated” or seen as “the norm”. and information to develop their diversity action plan. The “Cordées de la réussite” You mentioned that you’re partnerships with secondary planning to create a Chair Another key way in which schools are also a core part for Diversity. Can you tell us ParisTech is addressing the issue of our efforts. I firmly believe more about that? of diversity is the “Cordées de la in the importance of role models. réussite” initiative. The partnerships Giving younger pupils the chance The idea is to focus on the following help young people from a variety to meet students from the ParisTech question: How can we best equip of social and cultural backgrounds schools helps them realise that our students to manage diversity in find out more about the courses we students are “normal” young people their future roles as managers? offer and the funding opportunities from all kinds of backgrounds. Corporate environments are not and entry routes that exist. The ParisTech schools are often all that different to academic A new partnership has recently stereotyped. People assume environments. Companies know that been set up between the Lycée there’s no diversity, but that’s promoting and preserving diversity Pierre-Gilles de Gennes and not the case at all. is essential, because it’s ZOOM Les Cordées: Tutors as enthusiastic as ever A survey of former tutors from the four ParisTech schools involved in the “Cordées de la réussite” partnership scheme (AgroParisTech, Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, École des Ponts ParisTech, MINES ParisTech) has been carried out to investigate how the partnerships work, what prompts tutors to get involved, and whether there are areas for improvement.

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