ESME Sudria

The School

For nearly a century, since 1905, the ESME-Sudria has been training engineers in the fields of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, and Computer Engineering.

The curriculum of the school, which is taught in French, has evolved significantly over the years: it covers the full range of technologies from electrical power to the management of complex systems and intelligent networks.

The urban campus of the ESME-Sudria is on the doorsteps of Paris in Ivry-sur-Seine (two kilometers from inner Paris). Currently situated on 7,500 m², the campus includes laboratories (4500 m²), classrooms (2500 m²), right on the RER C (express subway) and only 3 stations from Boulevard Saint Michel. Newly, the school is sharing the campus with 3 others schools of the IONIS Institute of Technology (IPSA "aerospace engineering", ETNA "computer technology" and IONIS School of Technology and Management "double degrees in technics and management")

These modern premises include lecture rooms, self-access laboratories, and a cafeteria.

Since 1905, over 14,000 engineers have graduated. 9,000 are currently active. The legal status of the school today is an « Association loi 1901 » i.e. a non-profit making association.

There are approximately 1500 students (of which 15% are girls), taught by 220 members of faculty and research staff.

History

1875, Joachim Sudria, founder of the school, was born in Perpignan. Although from a modest family, the young Joachim, supported and encouraged by his teachers, succeeded in entering the l'Ecole Polytechnique. He graduated as an officer in the research and development of the army.

Joachim Sudria A University career with a Doctors Degree and a chair at the « Universite libre de Paris » graduation as an engineer from the prestigious Ecole Superieure d'Electricite (Supelec).

Following up on this success, Joachim Sudria founded the ESME in 1905, an Engineering School which at that time offered a two-year degree after the baccalauréat. Having experienced material difficulties during his own studies, which he achieved only with the aid of State grants, he remained aware of his students' difficulties, and adapted solutions to each case.

The school, situated rue Bertrand in the 7th district, developed to approximately 50 graduates (1905-1914).

The First World War (1914-1919) nearly caused the school to close. Students were lacking, and available faculty staff were rare. (About 30% of the students died during the war). Then, the school expanded during 1920-1935, and multiplied the number of graduates by nine over a period of three years.

In 1922, the school obtained state-recognition, and extended the degree to three years after the baccalauréat.

The premises became too small, so a new site was created rue de Sèvres in Paris (1925), in buildings which have since been demolished and replaced by the « Services d'Urologie » of the Hôpital Necker. One of the school's neighbor was the Ecole Polytechnique Feminine (EPF, today situated at Sceaux) founded and directed by Mademoiselle Paris. The bond between the two schools was reinforced when Madame Piguet, the first female graduate of the ESME, was appointed Studies Director at the EPF.

1935, Still expanding, the ESME moved to rue Blaise Desgoffe in Paris, which has remained its principal address until 2004. In 1936, the « Commission des titres d'ingénieur » was created, and accorded the ESME the right to deliver the degree of Mechanical-Electrical Engineer.

The ESME was affected like many other schools, by the Second World War (1939-1945), with professors and students being enlisted. It gave shelter to students who were French Resistants, and was victim of a Gestapo descent.

In 1941, Pierre Doceul, a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and an Armaments Engineer, son-in-law to Joachim Sudria, was appointed Deputy-Head of the school. Under his direction a section of Electronics Engineering was opened in 1949 to complete the Electrical Engineering section, and the school awarded both degrees. It was only 15 years later that the two sections both awarded a degree as an Engineer Graduate of the ESME.

Development

In 1950, Joachim Sudria retired only a few months before his decease, nominating Pierre Doceul as Director. Following the principles set by his predecessor, Pierre Doceul continued to apply a high-level of theoretical training completed by a well-developed practical formation. This combination has led to the success of the ESME in the corporate world, which recognizes in the ESME engineers a particularly strong adaptability and a rapid operational level.

The ESME created a languages department (1952): a great innovation for its time !

In 1965, new premises, today abandoned, were opened in Paris. The length of studies increased from three to four years. The computer science department was created (1966). This subject was generalized to the other departments. The school obtained first a terminal linked to the IBM center, then two of the famous VAX computers, and this was followed by a 360-30, which today seems quite a monument. It was also the period of the perforated cards, which were long and with frequent errors.

After 1967, the annual promotion figures were above 200, new premises and new laboratories were opened. Inductive pedagogy was introduced through the development of long projects, and work in pairs and groups of three. Internship periods were lengthened.

Jean Doceul

1980, Jean Doceul, Engineer of the Supélec, was nominated to take over the school.

He developed contacts :

The first specialized options were installed (1985) : nuclear engineering in the Electrical Engineering Department, and Biomedical engineering in the Electronic Engineering Department. These specializations were closed in 1989 for lack of job openings.

In 1989, the first partnership was set up for a dual degree with the University of San José in the USA, where nowadays approximately fifteen students still study every year. During 1990-1993, the number of graduates reached nearly 300 each year, creating the need for new premises. A 2,500 m² annex to the campus was opened in new premises right on the RER in Ivry, only 20 minutes away from the Paris campus.

An important reform to the program was introduced during 1995-1998. The five-year studies was divided into two cycles, a first two-year preparatory cycle followed by an engineering cycle of three. The first two years of this engineering cycle remain common to all students, while the final year offers three departments:

Each department has four specialized options : one original, one theoretical, one classical, and one management oriented.

In 1998, the independent International Relations Department was created, and in four years they have established:

1999-2000, the Ivry campus was enlarged to 4,500 m² - added to the Paris campus, the school premises total nearly 8,000m².

In 2014, the university will open a new campus in Beijing and a Mastère en sciences course in partnership with the Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology.

International

The school has got many international exchanges with top universities and schools around the world. Many are awarded by a Master of Science degree or are double degree programs during all the studies.

Examples,

Students can also use exchanges courses through Erasmus.

Rankings

3 stars over 3 by the magazine Challenges, and top15 for graduate salaries

3 stars over 3 by the magazine Challenges, and top15 for graduate salaries

3 stars over 3 by the magazine Challenges, and top15 for graduate salaries

25th over 150 by the Nouvel Economiste HR ranking

1st engineering school post baccalaureat (graduates salaries) by the magazine Challenges

1st engineering school post baccalaureat by the magazine Challenges

2nd engineering school post baccalaureat by the magazine Challenges

Known Alumni