In order to realize organic integration of domestic and overseas advanced teaching ideas and systematic coordination and complementary advantages of quality education resources, and establish engineer talent cultivating system planted in local areas, Beihang and Groupe des Écoles Centrales co-hosted a Sino-French Engineer Education Cooperation and Course Establishment Workshop on June 10th - 20th, 2014 at École Centrale Paris (ECP). Delegations present at the seminar included part of the faculties and management of Beihang and 5 universities of Groupe des Écoles Centrales, primarily promoting Chinese faculties’ deep understanding of French cultivating ideas and cultivating modes of general engineers; realizing integration of teaching ideas and systematic coordination of quality education resources through course matching, and enhancing the sustainable development of Sino-French education cooperation.
The seminar consisted of three stages:
The first stage was general exchange among the dean of education of Sino-French School Anne Spasojevic, Emile Esposito, academic dean of ECP John Cagnoli and academic dean of ECLi Veronique Le Courtois in terms of the cultivation ideas, characteristics and course system for general engineers; both sides further exchanged opinions on cultivation ideas, modes and curriculum, and conducted specific discussions on the feelings and experience of engineer internship, student project training, online education and cultivation, etc.
The second stage was course matching and discussion. Teachers from both sides were grouped by course category, and conducted extensive exchanges regarding course arrangement, teaching methodology and means, etc. Meanwhile, teaching partners in the cooperative teaching programs exchanged respective opinions on specific teaching content, form and method of the course, and each conducted demonstration classes in English, followed by in-depth discussion on subsequent course arrangement;
The third stage was discussion on scientific research cooperation and student presentation. The participating delegations provided corresponding advice after listening to the project research report of doctoral student of Groupe des Écoles Centrales who graduated from Beihang Sino-French Engineer School.
At that time, the delegations visited EDF research and development center, ECP scientific research lab and alumni association of Groupe des Écoles Centrales; and watched the live final of Challenge Project competing among ECP freshmen.
The French side highly valued the opportunity of this workshop. ECP President Hervé Biausser and Vice President Christopher Cripps personally came to visit the delegation, and Mr. Gérard Creuzet addressed the opening speech and concluded the workshop; over 20 teachers from the 5 universities of Groupe des Écoles Centrales attended the workshop.
The exchange and discussion at the workshop reached the expected goal of organic integration of Sino-French advanced teaching ideas, and systematic coordination and complementary advantages of quality education resources, laying a solid foundation of local engineer talent cultivation system for Beihang Sino French Engineer School.
Based on the full understanding of the goal of general engineer talent cultivation, participating delegations generally agreed with the cultivating idea and cultivating mode of Groupe des Écoles Centrales, particularly after in-depth understanding of the cultivation of team working and innovative spirit, and the core content of knowledge, ability, and attitude.
