École des ponts ParisTech facts for kids
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Other name
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Ponts |
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| Motto | Building the worlds of tomorrow |
| Type | French grande école, member of ParisTech (Paris Institute of Technology) |
| Established | 1747 |
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Academic affiliations
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ParisTech (Paris Institute of Technology) Conférence des Grandes écoles Paris School of Economics |
| Director | Anthony Briant |
| Students | 1,971 |
| Location |
Champs-sur-Marne
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France
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École des Ponts ParisTech is a famous French school for science, engineering, and technology. It was started in 1747 by Daniel-Charles Trudaine. This makes it one of the oldest and most respected "grandes écoles" in France.
A "grande école" is a special type of university in France. These schools are very selective and train students for top jobs in government, business, and science.
In the past, the school mainly trained engineers to build roads and bridges. Today, it teaches many subjects, like computer science, math, civil engineering, finance, and environmental studies. The school is very international. Many students come from other countries, and many French students go abroad to study for a double degree.
The main campus is in Marne-la-Vallée, near Paris, France. It is also a founding member of ParisTech and the Paris School of Economics. The French government's Ministry of Ecology helps oversee the school.
History
The Beginning (1747–1794)
The school started in 1747. It was first called "École royale des ponts et chaussées," which means "Royal School of Bridges and Roads." The King's Council decided to create this school to train engineers for the state. These engineers would build roads, bridges, and canals.
The first director was Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, a famous engineer. Students learned subjects like geometry, algebra, and mechanics. They also visited building sites and helped draw maps of France. Their training usually lasted from four to twelve years.
Growth and Industry (1794–1848)
During the time of Napoleon I, from 1804 to 1814, many engineers from the school helped rebuild France's roads. They also worked on big projects, especially those involving water. The school's second director, Gaspard Riche de Prony, changed the education to train civil engineers better. These engineers were needed to rebuild the country's important structures like roads, bridges, and buildings.
In 1831, the school opened its first laboratory. This lab brought together the best civil engineers in the country. The school also became a place to discuss ideas about city planning.
Big Projects (1848–1945)
In 1851, new rules made the school's courses, schedules, and teaching quality even better. For the first time, more people could attend the school. During this period, engineers from the school, like Fulgence Bienvenüe (who designed the Paris Métro), helped build many new roads, bridges, and canals in France. They greatly modernized the country's transport networks.
Modern Times (1945–1997)
After the Second World War, the school started to focus on how engineering connects with economics. Building big projects cost a lot of money. So, the government needed engineers who also understood the economy. The school's programs then included science, technology, social studies, and economics.
More students were accepted to train engineers for both government jobs and private companies. As technology advanced, the school updated its programs to include new ideas in building, city planning, and protecting the environment.
Academics
École des Ponts is a "Grande école." These are special higher education schools in France. They are separate from regular universities but work with them. Like famous universities in other countries, "Grandes Écoles" are very hard to get into. Their graduates often get important jobs in government and companies in France.
Even though they can be more expensive than public universities, "Grandes Écoles" usually have smaller classes. Many programs are taught in English. Students often get to do international internships and study abroad. They also have strong connections with government and businesses. École des Ponts is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, a group of top French schools.
École des Ponts offers many high-level programs. These include math, computer science, civil engineering, economics, finance, and environmental studies. It is known as a "generalist" school, meaning students get a broad education that includes management skills. The school also offers specialized master's degrees, PhDs, and programs for creating new businesses.
Ranking
The school is highly ranked in France and worldwide.
Here's how it ranks nationally for its Master of Sciences in Engineering:
| Name | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| DAUR Rankings | 2022 | 3 |
Times Higher Education also ranked these "Grandes Écoles" among the top 10 small universities (fewer than 5,000 students) worldwide:
| Times Higher Education – top 10 small universities worldwide |
2019 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| École des Ponts ParisTech | 9th | 7th |
The Ingénieur Programme
What You Learn
This is the school's main engineering program. It's unique to the French "Grandes Écoles" system. The "Diplôme d'Ingénieur" from École des Ponts is like a Master of Science degree. It includes the learning you would get from a Bachelor of Science too.
How to Get In
Most students get into the engineering program after attending special "preparatory classes" in France. They take very tough entrance exams called "Mines-Ponts." A few spots are also open each year for French and international university students. École des Ponts accepts students from the top 4% of those in preparatory classes.
Master's Degrees
École des Ponts offers many master's degrees. These build on the school's long history of expertise. Some programs are offered with other top universities.
Some examples of master's degree options include:
- Mathematics for Finance and Data
- Energy Transition
- Civil Engineering
- Transportation and Mobility
- Environmental Economics
- City and Urban Environment
PhDs
The school's laboratories host many PhD students. A PhD is the highest university degree, where students do original research. In 2021, 40 PhDs were awarded, and about 183 PhD students were studying at the school. Students in the "Ingénieur" program can also choose to do a PhD after their studies.
École des Ponts Business School
The École des Ponts Business School is part of the main school. It offers programs in international management, including an MBA (Master of Business Administration). Students from the engineering program can also take business courses or even pursue an MBA.
d.School Paris at École des Ponts
The school has also created the first French design school, called d.School Paris. It offers courses with a strong focus on creating new businesses and ideas.
Departments
The "Ingénieur" program is taught through six main departments:
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- City, Environment, Transportation
- Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
- Applied Mathematics and Computer Science
- Economics, Management, Finance
- Industrial Engineering
Partnerships
École des Ponts ParisTech works with many other schools and organizations both in France and around the world.
French Partners
The school has strong ties with other French academic groups like ParisTech and the Paris School of Economics.
It also has agreements for "double-degrees" with other French institutions. This means students can earn two degrees from two different schools. Some partners include:
- HEC Paris (a top business school)
- Sciences Po Paris (a famous political science school)
- École nationale de l'aviation civile (for aviation)
International Partners
École des Ponts ParisTech has cooperation agreements with many universities worldwide. Students can get a double-degree from a partner university in another country. In 2014, they had partners in 23 countries across 4 continents.
Students can also do exchange semesters or research internships abroad. The school has very close connections with universities in Brazil, China, and Spain.
Many students get double-degrees from leading universities in the United States (like Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, Princeton, Columbia), the United Kingdom (like London School of Economics, Imperial College, Oxford, Cambridge), and Asia (like Tokyo University, NUS).
Research
École des Ponts ParisTech conducts research in many different areas. Here are some of them:
- Atmospheric environment
- Water, urban planning, and environment
- Mathematics and computer science
- Economics
- Fluid mechanics
- Urban planning and transport
- Mechanics and physics of materials
The school also helped create Scilab, a free software used for math and science.
Alumni and Faculty
Many important people have studied or taught at École des Ponts ParisTech.
Some famous alumni (former students) include:
- Mohamed Abdeljalil, Moroccan Minister of Transport
- Paul Andreu, architect
- Henri Becquerel, physicist (discovered radioactivity)
- Fulgence Bienvenüe, chief engineer for the Paris Métro
- Élisabeth Borne, French Prime Minister (2022-2024)
- Albert Caquot, civil engineer, known for many large structures
- Marie François Sadi Carnot, French president (1887-1894)
- Augustin Louis Cauchy, famous mathematician
- Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis, mathematician and physicist
- Eugène Freyssinet, structural engineer, pioneer of prestressed concrete
- Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, chemist and physicist
- Claude-Louis Navier, engineer and physicist, known for fluid dynamics equations
- Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, the school's first director
- Prince Souphanouvong, former president of Laos
- Jean Tirole, economist, won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2014
- Louis Vicat, engineer, invented artificial cement
Past and present faculty (teachers) include:
- Étienne-Louis Boullée, architect
See also
In Spanish: Escuela Nacional de Puentes y Caminos para niños
