THE "n+i" NETWORK: TRAINING ENGINEERS WITH AN

INTERNATIONAL VOCATION
Trotignon Jean-Pierre, Director of the "n+i" Network,
Rseau "n+i" / EduFrance, 173 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris (France).
jp.trotignon@nplusi.com and www.nplusi.com
ENGINEERS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL VOCATION ?
Communication and adaptation, the two keywords
The decision to become an engineer with an international orientation stems from a personal
challenge and requires the discovery or development of significant human qualities.
International engineers obviously need to be able to demonstrate solid scientific and
technical training and also practice English at a level that facilitates communication. This,
however, is just the starting point, let say a basic background, in the training of international
engineers, or engineer-managers. The ability to speak the same language, English, does not
necessarily imply mutual understanding; demonstrative examples of this abound. The
engineer has to prove his ability to manage international projects with persons coming from a
multiplicity of cultural horizons. And this is not all, the engineer has to demonstrate his
ability to adapt to a world, to technologies, to socio-economic factors in constant evolution,
and then demonstrate open-mindedness, an aptitude for dialogue and communication
inside the company with collaborators and staff, as well as within the corporate environment.
As can be seen, the internationally oriented engineer has to demonstrate far more than just a
technical grounding based on pure academic criteria. Most important, he has to demonstrate
autonomy, adaptability, creativity, curiosity, a range of human qualities and an ability to
communicate Let us quote Carlos Ghosn, a graduate engineer from a French school, now
Chairman of the car manufacturer Renault-Nissan,
"In today's world, contact is more important than separation, exchange more enriching than
juxtaposition; confrontation a lesser evil than indifference and isolation. In the world that is
unfolding before us, national borders have been called into question by globalisation, cultural
frontiers transcended by multiculturalism and, within companies, operating and functional
borders have given way to cross functional approaches.
This breakdown of frontiers naturally has consequences for the companies of tomorrow:
breaking through barriers has become a condition for success. Companies have to act on a
planetary scale, drawing staff from a wide variety of cultures, decompartmentalising as a
means of bringing together complementary talents and intelligences from every type of
background.
In this open world, I am convinced that cultural diversity is a key dimension for companies.
Choose diversity, it will pay you back a hundredfold. When a company operates on world
markets, it is indispensable to take into consideration a wide variety of cultural needs and
values."
"n+i", a national training course with an international dimension
One sees that, whatever the country considered, academic training is capable of providing
engineers with the intellectual resources they need throughout their life and, in particular,
ensures they are able to adapt to constantly evolving situations. This basic training is of
course essential, as is the practice of English at a high level. However for this, there is no

need for travel. Today, practically all countries possess high-quality universities or
engineering schools capable of training engineers in the strict "technician" sense of the word.
This is the strictly national dimension of "n+i". In the training of engineer-managers with an
international orientation, as offered by the "n+i" Network, the national dimension "n" is just
the beginning, the necessary starting point. Let's now talk of the international dimension of
"n+i".
The international engineer faces two more challenges:

learning of the management expertise required in his profession (learn how to

manage teams and international projects),

adapting to a multicultural environment with persons coming from a variety of

countries, and being capable of integrating the positive aspects.
This vital cultural dimension cannot be learnt at home. Quite simply because it requires
practical experience, and nothing can replace experience through immersion in a foreign
environment (in every sense of the word), as a way of obtaining a maximum amount of
information or perhaps to discover one's own limitations.
This then is the international dimension of "n+i".
What goes for foreign students, also goes for French students which is why the "n+i"
Network targets both populations of students, while encouraging French studentengineers to visit foreign countries. Naturally, to discover top-class teaching, but also,
above all perhaps, the culture, traditions, history, political and social organisation and
international role of the country visited etc.
Based on this premise, establishments in the "n+i" Network set themselves the task of
facilitating this "cultural voyage of discovery" by organising training courses in French and
foreign companies and universities.
The "n+i" Network is keen to develop close partnerships with foreign universities, in
association with French or foreign companies, to ensure it is in a position to offer top flight
training for future international managers.
The Bologna process, a mechanism for international exchange
University degree courses in Europe (and the world) do not all function on the same model,
which makes it difficult to evaluate on a comparative basis the level of studies obtained. This
is detrimental to student mobility and also complicates the task of degree recognition.
In signing the Bologna declaration, 45 countries in Europe have decided to harmonise their
degree courses, adopting a joint system of comparison of level of competence, rather than a
number of years for example.
The aim is to enable comparisons and equivalences to be made internationally, encouraging
student mobility and facilitating access to the European labour market.
By 2010, all universities must have adapted to the European "L(B).M.D" standard: Licence
(Bachelor) Degree, Master Degree, Doctorate (PhD)
The new European system is organised on the basis of Teaching Units (TUs), corresponding
to a specific educational domain. A university semester comprises five teaching units. The
work of students is evaluated on the basis of credits which reflect a volume of teaching
hours, professional activity, training courses and personal work.

ECTS credits the Euro of university training

Each degree corresponds to a programme comprising a certain number of teaching units
with a common unit of account: the credit: The European Credit System. A Teaching Units
(TU) is equivalent to 6 credits.
A full validated year of training corresponds to 10 TUs i.e. 60 credits (Licence with 180
credits, Master with 300 credits (or licence + 120 credits), doctorate (PhD) 180 credits on top
of a master degree).
The ECTS is also referred to as the European Credit Transfer System. Credits can be
capitalised and transferred throughout Europe.
An appendix to the degree certificate (supplment au diplme) indicates the type of course
work accomplished and the skills obtained by the student in other countries in the European
Union.
The new training period organisation will also, and this is a great step forward, enable
acquired professional experience to be validated. Encouraging lifetime training!
THE "n+i" NETWORK: STRENGTH THROUGH FEDERATION
"n+i" is a national programme, managed by EduFrance with the support of the Ministry
of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The "n+i" Network has set itself the aim of providing a cultural dimension to the training of
engineers with an international orientation. This is summed up with two key words:
communication (going well beyond strict mastery of a common language) and adaptability.
This last word sums up the basic philosophy of the Network. It hardly needs saying that,
every day, we need to adapt to a fast changing world, politically, technologically, socially,
economically We therefore made a decision to challenge students: prove that you are
capable of adapting to a system and not the contrary. Foreign students are integrated with
French students and obtain the same degree as they do, with the same rights (reduced
tuition fees, possibility of employment, access to scholarships, etc.). However, to
compensate for the difficulties represented by such an adaptation process, in particular for
non-French-speaking students, we offer personalised assistance (reception in Paris,
housing, insurance, enrolment, tutoring, French courses, a period of cultural and linguistic
adaptation etc.). Services of this sort necessitate the combined resources of the various
French Engineering schools. The result is that the language handicap becomes less
problematic and we are able to recruit students with little knowledge of French but highly
motivated to follow this type of training programme.
In 2005, the "n+i" Network will comprise over 60 Top Grandes Ecoles and Engineering
schools in France representative of every area of engineering (from telecommunications to
agriculture as well as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering,
environmental studies etc., in all more than 250 keywords in the "n+i" website:
www.nplusi.com).
The "n+i" Network is aimed at all those involved in the training of engineer-managers (with
whom cooperative agreements can be signed) and who can demonstrate:

their interest in the training of engineers with an international orientation from all
aspects,

the importance they attach to the role of higher education and training institutions in
the area of international cooperation and their contribution to social development.
"n+i" SERVICES ?

Promotion
The "n+i" Network provides information on training to students in the best foreign
universities. The n+i Internet site provides information on engineering training available in
France making it possible to rapidly obtain detailed information (search for training by
keyword, information on costs, grants, financing, studies, degrees etc.)..
Recruitment
The "n+i" program is aimed at students who possess at least a Bachelor's degree (4 years)
and gives them the possibility of obtaining an Official Masters degree (in France an
engineering degree). However it is not just a program of academic exchange as it also offers
an in-depth cultural insight into the host country and company.

The "n+i" Network has created an Internet site (www.nplusi.com) which besides providing
information, enables online recruitment, providing access for "n+i" partners (schools,
foreign universities and companies) to approved student files, via a free login and password.
The validation of "electronic" student files by "n+i" is made on the basis of certified
conformed documents provided by students. "n+i" can therefore make an online selection of
the students that they would like to assist by proposing training, projects employment and
grants.
This service can also be accessed by foreign universities who have signed co-operation
agreements with the "n+i" Network. The universities can obtain access to the student files of
French candidates.
In 2005, "n+i" Schools will receive, all countries combined, more than 220 studentengineers coming from more than 35 different countries.
Reception
The "n+i" Network provides students with the chance of demonstrating autonomy, creativity,
curiosity, human qualities, an ability to communicate as well as adaptability, however the
student is not left alone, the "n+i" Network is there to help.
For example, we welcome all students at the airport and then invite them for four days of
sightseeing in Paris. During this period, they discover the French capital and we can talk to
them about living in France, the life they will lead for the next two years.
We then provide them with an intensive French course during the summer months from July
to September.
By September, they are not yet ready to join French students and follow the same courses
as them. We therefore organise, and this is one of the originalities of the "n+i" Network, a
customised period (from September to February) designed to facilitate cultural, linguistic and
methodological adaptation (the semester of transition) as part of the engineering training
programme.
The Semester of transition provides:

confidence building in linguistic, scientific and technological areas:

discovery of teaching and life in France

It is arranged by the "n+i" Network and "customised" for the needs of international students.
Students receive personalised assistance from tutors: welcoming, housing assistance,
assistance in administrative formalities (enrolments, bank, visas etc.). For maximum

effectiveness and to reduce costs, this semester is common to several schools providing the
same teaching material. It is arranged in a single establishment chosen by "n+i" partners.
Training
The student has the opportunity of widening his range of skills by going beyond the strict but
inescapable scientific and technological aspects of his engineering training, by integrating
the economic, sociological and managerial aspects of his future profession through
professional experience and training courses forming an integral part of the French
Engineering Degree.
The "n+i" Network is aimed at engineering students that possess at least a Bachelor's
degree or equivalent. Students can choose between:

a "long" (2 year) course leading to an Official Master's degree based on European

standards. Studies take place in a Grande Ecole and lead to the prestigious Diplme
dIngnieur, the Official Master's degree!
After the six-month transition period, n+i student-engineers enter the Grande Ecole of their
choice to pursue their studies. In-company training courses and visits to production sites
form part of the training. n+i students follow courses alongside French students and possibly
other international students, and are awarded the same degree, the diplme dingnieur
(Official Master's Degree), recognised throughout the world.

a "short" course (1 year) referred to as an "Experience", comprising a semester of

courses or research in a company or engineering school, or a training period supervised by a
professor in a company.
From January to June, after the ST, the student chooses a semester between:

Following courses as an outside student in an engineering school,

Pursuing a training period in a company in France or Europe,

Pursuing a research activity in an engineering school or company.

This six-month period enables the student to discover a different way of working, thinking
and living, enriching his cultural "experience". This period is noted and can be credited
(certificate of transfer of ECTS credits) by the candidate's first university.
Partnerships with companies
International students are quite naturally destined to occupy, in the international
arena, positions of high responsibility in companies or administrations. French and foreign
companies can therefore offer assistance to students that they consider best suited to their
projects during studies by offering training courses, projects, grants, financing and
employment etc..
Candidate Student files can be consulted by partner companies in the "n+i" Network.
Offers can be consulted, directly online by students, from their personal page in the "n+i"
site.
In 2005, the "n+i" Network offered more than 30 corporate grants to students, worth
almost 1 million in financing.

Simplified enrolment and search for financing

Collaboration enables simplification of grant searches, financing, training offers, schools etc.
A single comprehensive online student enrolment form is available on the "n+I" Internet site
and confirmation sent in the form of a signed "paper" version with attached documentary

proof (see list in the enrolment file). This enables student files be validated and access
provided to partners in the Network: French schools, foreign universities and companies etc.