École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers (ENSAM) is a French Engineering institute and grand établissement.

The major fields of study at the ENSAM are:

Most students complete preparatory classes in order to attend grandes écoles; thus, the first year in ENSAM is actually a third year of university study. In most cases, students follow the two first years in one of the centers of Aix-en-Provence, Angers, Bordeaux, Châlons-en-Champagne, Cluny, Lille, or Metz. The center of Paris is reserved for third year-students.

Each year, approximatively 1,000 students get a 2nd cycle diplôme d'ingénieur de l'Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers, and 50 students a 3rd cycle degree.

[edit] History

The school originated in Liancourt, Oise, with an initiative taken by the Duke of Rochefoucauld-Liancourt in 1780; it was originally meant to provide in-depth training for dragoon officers. After 1800, the institution became known as the École d'Arts et Métiers.

The second school of this kind was founded in 1804 at Beaupréau (near Angers), but was actually in use after a third one was already functional in Châlons-en-Champagne. The last of ENSAM institutions to be established is the one in Metz (1997).

The schools in various locations were turned into engineer training institutions in 1907.

Since the beginning of the institution, the students of the school perpetuate their own traditions and folklore, and organize themselves in a student society. They call themselves "Gadz'Arts" , abbreviated from "Gars des Arts" ("Guys from the Arts"). The "Gadz" folklore includes traditional clothing, language, songs and legends, related symbolism, and ceremonials. Gadz'Arts issues are independants of the administration of the school and are exclusively run by the students, although the two parts often cooperate for organising cultural or sportive events.

[edit] Famous alumni (Gadz'Arts)

Pierre Bézier (Paris, 1927), inventor of CAD
Jean-Lou Chameau (Lille 1972), president of the California Institute of Technology
Julien Dupuy, (Chalons, 2001), pioneer of "charniere" for Renault
André Ertaud (Paris, 1928), pioneer of nuclear energy
Alexandru G. Golescu (Paris, 1839), Romanian politician
Claude Goubet (Angers, 1853), inventor of the submarine
Wilhem (aka Guillaume-Louis Bocquillon) (Liancourt, 1795 - Compiègne, 1800), composer