The “n+i” network offers its members and participants the opportunity to pool resources in the following areas:
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Communications and marketing. In cooperation with the French national committee on engineering education (CDEFI), “n+i” looked for a way to present French engineering education so that it would be easy to understand for students accustomed to the international scale of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. We sought to help students identify appropriate programs and to put them in touch with schools, companies, and regional authorities that were looking for qualified engineers—as students, interns, trainees, or employees. This Web site is the fruit of that search.
We also organize university tours for the purpose of presenting French engineering education and exploring opportunities for cooperation. And we participate in fairs and expos that bring us face to face not only with students and foreign universities, but also with French and international firms interested in hiring the engineers trained by “n+i” member schools.
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Recruitment and admission. “n+i” has developed an online application and admission, pionner in France—and perhaps in all of Europe. The system makes it easy for students to apply and for member institutions to access their applications. As necessary, we organize interview tours for members of the faculty of “n+i” institutions.
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Student orientation and support. “n+i” helps students with administrative and regulatory matters (visas, insurance, social benefits) and prepares them for academic and social life in a French engineering school. The transition semester, in particular, helps students succeed in their French engineering program.
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Training (including internships and projects). “n+i” is also a network of companies and local and regional authorities that share an interest in the training of internationally oriented engineers. Network members offer internships, project opportunities, and financial aid. Schools benefit by being introduced to new corporate and government partners.
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Spin-off benefits. Networks allow their members to pool efforts and attain efficiencies of scale. One of those efficiencies is the ability to undertake initiatives and create structures that would not be possible for one institution acting alone. Examples include:
o Web-based recruiting with password-protected accounts,
o keyword searches,
o online applications, and an online admission process,
o Distance-education programs to prepare students for academic life in France.
