Polytech, an engineering school at the university
Backed by a national network,the engineering school focuses on selective training that is closely aligned with the business world and technological innovations. The result: record job placement rates for its students and a well-established reputation.
Credits Luc Jennepin
In the lobby ofthe Polytech Montpellier school, a display board lists the professional achievements of students who have graduated from the institution. We learn that one alumnus now works at NASA, another is the head of Veolia for Eastern Europe, and many alumni hold top positions in prestigious industrial groups, when they haven't successfully launched their own businesses. The engineering school is very proud of these successes and of its employment rate, which is close to 90% six months after graduation.
NASA, Airbus, Veolia...
" Behind the ten or so schools that everyone knows, such as Ecole Polytechnique and Centrale, the Polytech network is considered a major partner for government departments and businesses," says Serge Pravossoudovitch, director of Polytech Montpellier.
More than just a school, Polytech is a network of 15 institutions located in France's major cities. Founded in 2003 as an extension of the Eiffel network, Polytech can boast the status of " France's largest network of engineering schools." Every year, Polytech Montpellier sees 300 engineers graduate from its halls. These students have had the privilege of benefiting from state-of-the-art equipment throughout their studies. " One of the big advantages of being a university school is its proximity to research laboratories ," explains Serge Pravossoudovitch.
School spirit
This excellence comes at a price: selection. Recruited through competitive exams after two years of post-secondary education, engineering students can also apply after high school to a two-year preparatory program. Admission is also subject to a highly selective competitive examination. Comprising 10 departments covering as many specializations, the university school offers courses in fields such as biological and food engineering, microelectronics and embedded systems, management information systems, mechanics, materials, and water sciences. The training is provided by 130 teachers as well as nearly 300 contributors from the business world.
The goal: to adapt teaching to the demands of a market that is evolving at the speed of technological innovation. Here, the " school spirit " is not just an empty phrase: informal address is the norm, there is a close relationship with students, and a family atmosphere prevails. This combination makes Polytech one of the most "relaxed" places to study at UM. But appearances can be deceiving, because seriousness is essential for students who, upon graduation, will take on positions of responsibility in sensitive sectors such as aeronautics, automotive, food safety, robotics, and aerospace.
The school as seen by a student
Baptiste Théau, 4th-year student in electronic and automatic microtechnologyelectronics and automation, President of the Student Life Office (BVE)
" Like many others, I didn't know anyone when I arrived, as many students come from other cities. Integration is therefore a very important part of the experience. It takes place through sports activities and evening events organized by the school's various associations and the BVE. This allows us to discover common interests even before classes begin. This year, the BVE will randomly distribute colored bracelets to form eight teams that will compete in challenges throughout the month. The goal is to bring people together across different years of study, since students from First-year students will be mixed with third-year students... "
Key figures
- 1,400 students
- 10 specialties
- 50 administrative and technical staff
- 130 teachers
- 300 professional speakers
- More than 100 partner universities worldwide
- 600 host companies
- 12 partner research laboratories
Polytech behind Kito de Pavant!
Since 2014, Polytech and Languedoc sailor Kito de Pavant have been engaged in a partnership around "Made in Midi," the
collaborative program to develop a boat designed for the biggest sailing races.
This is a golden opportunity for engineering students to take on a major technological challenge: participating in the development of a boat capable of sailing for several months without stopping during the legendary Vendée Globe. Although luck was not on the navigator's side in 2017, forcing him to abandon the race in the southern seas, the experience allowed Polytech students to put their knowledge into practice in the design of decision-making tools, the choice of materials, and even the design of components such as the rudder, which was created by a UM team that included several Polytech students!
The Polytech team wins the 2018 French Robotics Cup
On May 10, 11, and 12, 2018, in La-Roche-sur-Yon, Robotech Legends, the robotics club made up of former students from Polytech Montpellier, won the French Robotics Cup and finished third in the Eurobot Open final.
During this fun, scientific, and technical amateur robotics challenge, participants designed and built an autonomous robot that complied with the rules, the spirit of the event, and was capable of participating in matches.
The Robotech Legends team is made up of five former students from Polytech Montpellier: Romain Penot, Alexandre Schutz, Denis Jullien, Carole Jacquinot, and Guillaume Patrigeon, who acts as team leader and doctoral student at LIRMM in the Microelectronics department.