Arts et Métiers ParisTech facts for kids

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Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology

Former names	ENSAM (École nationale supérieure d'arts et métiers), École impériale d'arts et métiers, Ecole d'arts et métiers
Type	Public, Grande école
Established	1780; 245 years ago (1780)
Academic affiliations	ParisTech, France AEROTECH, CGE
Budget	€124.6 M (in 2011)
President	Laurent Champaney
Academic staff	600
Students	6200
Location	Paris , France 48°50′03″N 2°21′27″E / 48.8341°N 2.3575°E / 48.8341; 2.3575
Campus	Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Angers, Lille, Bordeaux, Châlons-en-Champagne, Cluny, Metz
Institutes	Bastia, Chambéry, Chalon-sur-Saône
Colors	Purple & orange
Nickname	Gadzarts

Arts et Métiers ParisTech is a famous French engineering and research school. It's known as a grande école, which means it's one of France's top higher education institutions. This school is especially good at teaching about mechanics and how things are made in factories.

It was started way back in 1780, making it one of the oldest schools in France. Arts et Métiers ParisTech is considered one of the best engineering schools in the country. It often ranks among the top ten French engineering schools. For example, in 2018, it was ranked fifth in France for Mechanical Engineering.

Since it began, the school has trained 85,000 engineers. It is a public school that works under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. In 2007, the school changed its name to "Arts et Métiers ParisTech". It was also a founding member of important groups like ParisTech and France AEROTECH.

Arts et Métiers ParisTech has eight main teaching and research centers and three smaller institutes across France. Students at the school are called Gadz'Arts.

History of Arts et Métiers

Duke of La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

How the School Started

The school began in Liancourt, France, in 1780. It was founded by the Duke of Rochefoucauld-Liancourt. At first, it was meant to train the children of military officers. After 1800, it became known as the École d'Arts et Métiers.

When Napoleon was in charge, the school was called the "École impériale des arts et métiers". Napoleon wanted the school to train "Non-commissioned officers of Industry". In 1799, the school moved to Compiègne. But Napoleon thought the castle there wasn't right for an industrial school. So, in 1806, he moved it again to Châlons-en-Champagne. There, two old monasteries gave the school much more space.

Arts et Métiers During the World Wars

Many students and former students joined the army during World War I. About 6,500 Gadz'Arts fought, and around 1,100 died in the first year. Some campuses were damaged, especially the one in Châlons-sur-Marne. The Lille campus was even used as a military hospital by the Germans. Other campuses closed from 1916 to 1917. The new Paris campus was not damaged.

Between the two World Wars, industries grew quickly in Europe. This was good for Gadz'Arts engineers. They were perfect for new management jobs in many industries. They often worked in car making, airplanes, and construction.

During World War II, the school tried to keep going. The campuses in Lille and Châlons-sur-Marne had problems. In 1939, no new students were allowed there. The Cluny campus faced a difficult time in 1943, and many students and staff were taken away. A student named Jacques Bonsergent died, becoming a symbol of fighting against the war.

New Campuses for Arts et Métiers

The second school of its kind opened in 1804 in Beaupréau. It later moved to Angers in 1815. About 30 years later, a third school was built in Aix-en-Provence in 1843. It used old army buildings and monasteries.

Around the year 1900, the school grew even more with three new campuses. In 1891, the old abbey of Cluny became the fourth school. Then, to keep up with the industrial revolution, a fifth campus was built in Lille, a fast-growing city. The Lille buildings were the first to be built just for the school. The Paris campus, a project planned for a long time, was built between 1906 and 1912. It became the biggest campus, but World War II delayed its full opening. After the war, the Paris campus had over 500 students.

In the 1960s, the seventh campus was built near Bordeaux. Its modern buildings opened in 1963.

The newest main campus opened in Metz in 1997. It was built in a science park, close to transport links. The school wanted this campus to be international, being near Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. It also helped with partnerships with German (KIT) and American (Georgia Tech) universities.

Between 1990 and 2000, three research institutes were created: Chambéry in 1994, Chalon-sur-Saône in 1997, and Bastia in 2000. The school also has two smaller campuses in Bouc-bel-Air and Laval. These are linked to the research programs of the main campuses.

Important Moments for the School

In 1817, the school stopped being a military school by royal order. Its new goal was to train skilled technicians. But students still wore uniforms, a tradition that continues today. In 1826, another order fully removed the military organization. Students were allowed to wear their uniforms as civilian clothes.

In 1847, after trying three times, students finally got the right to form an association for former Arts et Métiers students. In 1907, the regional campuses became institutions for training engineers.

In 1963, the way students were chosen changed to include those from Classes préparatoires. In 1964, the first woman joined Arts et Métiers. The school became a grande école in 1976.

In 2007, the school joined ParisTech and started using the name "Arts et Métiers ParisTech". In 2016, they removed "ParisTech" from their logo.

Logos and Symbols

At first, the school didn't have its own logo. It shared a symbol with the Duke and the city of Liancourt. This symbol had the letters A and M inside a gear. Over time, with different governments, the school's look changed often. It used the imperial eagle under Napoleon, then a royal flower when the monarchy returned.

Eventually, students decided to create their own symbol. It showed the letters A and M linked together, inspired by the Liancourt symbol. Students still use this symbol today, though it changed a bit in the 1950s to look smoother. The alumni association also used a similar symbol at first.

In 1963, a new, modern logo was designed for the school. It was very different but still kept the letters A and M. In 2007, when ParisTech was created, the school made a brand new logo. This one doesn't show the letters directly, but you can see them in the shapes of purple and orange diamonds. The school's new name is written next to the diamonds.

Rankings and Facts

Arts et Métiers ParisTech is always ranked among the top ten engineering schools in France. This includes schools like Mines ParisTech and École polytechnique. It's even seen as one of the top 5 Grandes écoles for students coming from classes préparatoires.

Here are some key facts about the school:

1,100 engineering degrees are given out each year. These are like Master's degrees in mechanical and industrial engineering.
6,200 students study there.
33,000 former students (alumni) live around the world.
400 professors and 250 full-time researchers work at the school.
There are 15 labs and research teams.
About 220 students are working on their PhDs.
The school's total budget is around 125 million Euros.

What Students Learn

The main goal of Arts et Métiers ParisTech is to teach students the basics of general engineering. This includes mechanical, structural, electrical, and industrial engineering. The school also offers special training for engineers and industry leaders who want to keep learning.

With 15 research labs and two PhD programs, Arts et Métiers ParisTech focuses on teaching and research in three main areas:

Mechanics, materials, and how things are made.
Systems that use fluids and energy.
Designing, making things in factories, managing risks, and making decisions.

The school offers about 24 Master's programs focused on research and about 20 advanced Master's programs. They also offer PhD studies.

Becoming an Engineer: The "Diplôme d'ingénieur"

Arts et Métiers ParisTech is famous for its 3-year engineering program. This program leads to the "diplôme d'ingénieur" degree. It's like a Master's degree in industrial and mechanical engineering.

How to Get In

Most of the 1,100 students each year come from Classes Préparatoires (CPGE). This is a tough two-year science program after high school. The national entry exam usually happens in May. It includes written tests in math, physics, engineering, literature, and foreign languages. The best students are then invited for oral exams in July. After these, the top students are accepted into Arts et Métiers ParisTech.

Other ways to get in exist too. Students who did well in technical studies at other colleges might be accepted. There's a special exam for these students, with about 100 spots. You can also apply after finishing a bachelor's or master's degree at another university. About 50 students are accepted this way each year.

What You Study

Students usually spend at least three years at the school. This time can be longer if they choose special training, study abroad, or do extra internships.

Numerical simulations, like the Finite Element Method, and lab techniques, like metallography for materials science, are part of the curriculum of the Engineer Arts et Métiers.

The first two years focus on core engineering subjects:

Mechanics
Materials science
Mechatronics (combining mechanics and electronics)
Electrotechnics (electrical engineering)
How things are made (like welding, shaping, machining)
Statistics
Computer programming
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Fluid mechanics
Thermodynamics (study of heat and energy)
Supply chain management
Systems and controls
How power is moved and changed
Designing mechanical and industrial products

The training also includes classes in management, finance, and languages. The third year is for specialized courses, focusing on advanced technical skills and management basics.

During their three years, students work on two big projects. They also complete three internships: one month as a laborer, three months as an engineering assistant, and six months as a research engineer.

What Arts et Métiers Engineers Do

Arts et Métiers engineers are known for being innovative, having great technical skills, and being good at managing and working with others. Big companies and international groups really want to hire them. Almost half of Gadz'Arts work for companies with over 10,000 employees, and about a quarter start their careers abroad.

These skills are made even better by their student projects and internships. Gadz'Arts are flexible engineers and work in many different fields. The transportation industry (cars, planes, trains, ships) hires the most former students, about 24%. Other industries include energy, consulting, civil engineering, and IT. The rest work in areas like finance, bioengineering, and food production.

Master's Programs

The Master's programs are split into two types. Masters of Science include graduate courses and a master's project. Advanced Masters focus on a very specific area of science.

Doctoral Programs

The school offers two doctoral programs for PhD students. One is for physics, sciences, and engineering. The other is for management, economy, and social science.

Bachelor of Technology Program

In 2014, Arts et Métiers was the first French engineering school to offer a Bachelor of Technology program. This program gives more options to high school graduates who like science but might not want to get a full engineering degree.

Working with Other Schools

For over 20 years, the school has helped students get double degrees with other schools in France and around the world. Students who want to do this are chosen based on their grades in their first year.

Double-Degree Programs

The school has special agreements with many technology institutes worldwide for double-degree programs. This means students can earn two degrees from two different schools. Some partner countries include:

USA: Georgia Tech
Germany: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Spain: Polytechnic University of Catalonia
China: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Canada: Polytechnique Montréal

In France, some special programs let students earn other degrees along with their engineering degree. Being part of ParisTech (12 top graduate schools) and other partnerships has created many chances. Popular programs are with:

Supélec (electrical engineering)
IAE Paris (management)
Polytechnique (military engineering)

International Partnerships

The school has many partnerships with over 190 universities worldwide. Students often spend 1-2 semesters abroad in their third year. Partners are located all over the world, including at universities like Tsinghua University, MIT, Imperial College London, and University of California, Berkeley.

Student Life at Arts et Métiers

Traditions

Uniform of the Gadzarts

Since the school started, students have kept their own special traditions and culture. They are part of a student society. They call themselves "Gadz'Arts", which is short for "Guys from the Arts". The "Gadz" culture includes traditional clothes, a special language, songs, and ceremonies. Student activities are run by the students themselves, not the school's leaders. However, they often work together for cultural or sports events. Students still wear the uniform from the school's military past.

Student Clubs and Activities

Each of the eight campuses has its own student association and clubs. But they all follow a national plan. Paris is where the main national student association (UE) is located, and it organizes all the big events. The UE is one of the largest student associations in Europe, with 3,500 active members.

Each year, big events are organized:

A national career fair in Paris: The Forum Arts et Métiers connects 5,000 students with 150 companies. These companies offer full-time jobs or internships.
A two-week ski trip called Skiozarts (SKZ). About 1,500 Gadz'Arts meet at a ski resort in the French Alps, like Val Thorens.
A national student committee meeting. This happens each year at a different campus. About 1,000 students meet to talk about and vote on important decisions for the UE.

Many clubs exist for different interests. Teams from each campus can work together or join outside events, like the Shell Eco-Marathon or the French Robotics Cup. Each campus also has its own sports teams. Once a year, they compete against each other during the Olympic week.

Galas

The student associations organize several galas, both at each campus and a big national one in Paris.

The abbey of Cluny during the gala

Some campus galas include:

Angers: twice a year
Metz: once a year, with 2,000 guests
Bordeaux: once a year, with 3,000 guests
Cluny: once a year, with 4,000 guests
Lille: once a year, with 3,000 guests
Aix-en-Provence: 3 times a year, with 5,000 guests
Chalons-en-Champagne: twice a year, with 3,000 guests

The National Grand Gala in Paris happens in different famous places each year. These have included the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Palace, the Palais Garnier, and the Palace of Versailles. Thousands of guests, students, and former students meet, usually in May or June.

Alumni

Logo Arts et Métiers Mag.

The 33,000 members of the SOCE (Society of the Alumni) are very important to student life. The SOCE was created in 1846 and is the largest group of engineers in Europe. Even though it's separate from the school, they often work together on research or discussions. Members help students find jobs or internships and offer financial support to those who need it. The SOCE and the student association (UE) have a strong connection. Former students act as mentors and friends for current students. Meetings are held weekly, monthly, and yearly. The SOCE also manages a phone book and a website called "Gadz.org". A magazine called "Arts et Métiers Mag" is published every month for students, alumni, and professors.

Famous former students include:

Pierre Bézier (Paris, 1927), who invented computer-aided design
Jean-Lou Chameau (Lille 1972), former president of the California Institute of Technology
Rene Fonck, a leading pilot in World War I.
Jean-François Dehecq (Lille, 1958), former CEO of Sanofi Aventis
Lucien Servanty, who helped lead the Concorde airplane program
Roland Vardanega (Cluny, 1961), former CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroën
Henri Verneuil (Aix, 1940), a famous filmmaker

You can find more names in the full article:

Research Labs

Arts et Métiers ParisTech has 15 laboratories spread across its teaching centers and research institutes. These labs raise 15.4 million Euros each year from research projects. They often work with local universities or other research groups.