Vocation(s)

Created by and for businesses in the construction sector, ESITC Caen is a private higher education institution established in the general interest, managed by an association. Its mission? To find new ways to build, something that companies in the sector are crying out for. ‘‘Construction companies are taking on more and more engineers, have reviewed their recruitment methods and are in search of people with the appropriate skills,’’ emphasises the school’s director, Jérôme Lebrun. French students applying need to have taken science studies at school (Bac S, STI 2D or a CPGE Scientifique) or to have achieved a first technical, vocational higher education qualification (DUT Génie Civil or BTS Bâtiment ou Travaux Publics). ESITC Caen is set on attracting varied types of students for what is a highly progressive curriculum: ‘‘Students decide on the first option they wish to go for at the end of the third year, choosing either construction or public works. Specialisation begins in the fifth year. This allows students to make their choices according to what branch most appeals.’’

Our students don’t have to look for a job, they choose the job that suits them

The main prerequisite is a desire to work in construction and structural engineering. And as construction is no longer carried out today as it was in the past, internationalisation, digital studies, the environment and management are taught alongside science and technology to give students a fully rounded training. The School’s ambitions are strong and realistic: since its creation 25 years ago, over 90% of students each year sign a work contract even before they’ve received their degree. ‘‘There’s work available all around in this sector: in France, in regions across France, or then abroad. Everywhere, companies are looking for this skills set. There are construction projects across the world where specialists are needed to deal with complex specifications.’’ Two major branches are focused on in particular in the School’s curriculum: conceiving projects as an engineer in a design office or consultancy; or then working on the ground, as a works engineer, acting like a conductor, bringing together harmoniously all the elements on a building site. ‘‘What’s more, students can effectively choose the job of their dreams by being in control of three dimensions: the place where they’re going to work, the type of job they’re going to do, and the type of company they’re going to work for!’’ Jérôme Lebrun stresses.

In Normandy, we know how to act collectively !

Opening(s)

With its proven track record in teaching geared to the many needs of the profession, ESITC Caen has also been widening its openness to related institutions. ‘‘We’ve been working more and more on partnerships with other establishments nearby,’’ the director underlines. A member of the Normandie Tech network, bringing together all the engineering schools and schools of architecture across the region, ESITC Caen is also now home to a skills centre dedicated to BIM (Building Information Modelling) that’s unique in France. It was developed in association with the Academy and the Lycée Laplace. Offering some 100 places, this indispensable tool for today’s sector provides the possibility for the different players in civil engineering – schools of architecture, professionals, vocational futher education colleges – to work remotely on digital 3D models.

‘‘Lots of our teachers are professionals in the sector and our students can accumulate up to 16 months of work placements,’’ continues the director. The School’s openness also extends to the international stage. Besides work experience or work placements lasting a minimum of three months, students can also opt to complete their training abroad, working for several months on specific skills. ‘‘We’ve developed a network of partnerships with foreign universities, allowing us, in turn, via the setting up of workshops, to welcome students from around the globe to train in our particular areas of expertise.’’ These exchanges, for example with Germany, Brazil, Vietnam and Gabon, prove beneficial to all, enabling students to discover the processes of construction specific to different geographical regions.

We provide our students with this range of knowledge so that they leave with state-of-the-art baggage with which they can take on the world of work

Sustainable development(s)

‘‘In the past, people expected a building to be sturdy, above all. Today, people want buildings to be aesthetically pleasing, but also to perform well in terms of thermal, acoustic and sanitary criteria… as well as their being durable, that’s to say, planned for a whole life cycle, including recycling…,’’ says Jérôme Lebrun analytically. ESITC Caen has placed a great deal of importance on its research and development activities. Research topics are led by the needs of the profession, which very often cross over with the needs of the region. The School also offers a specialist masters linked to one of the fields of expertise of its laboratory – eco-materials: ‘‘Working with seashells or flax fibre reinforced concrete allows us to demonstrate our closeness to the Normandy Region. A few years ago we also worked on the reuse of sediment dredged from our ports in road construction.’’ All the research projects, linked to universities or in the context of European projects, are developed and tested at the heart of the School, thanks to cutting-edge equipment.

One training specialisation option available in the 5^th year – forming part of a second masters degree – focuses on maritime structures, and in particular on renewable offshore marine energy. Since June, the School has been home to a 40m-long wave flume, or canal, unique in France, helping to measure the impact of storms on coasts and on maritime structures. ‘‘This is in response to the major environmental challenge facing us, notably due to planetary warming and the rise in the level of the world’s oceans,’’ the director emphasises. For the use not just of the students, but also of researchers and professionals from around the world, this versatile piece of equipment makes it possible to run very precise simulations. ‘‘Thanks to its active absorption wave generator, we can, for instance, programme exactly where a wave will break.’’