With €160,000 in revenue, AMJE (Arts et Métiers ) operates like a start-up on campus, offering assignments to students. It has remained an intense and committed activity throughout the crisis.
Industrial engineering, design, manufacturing, computer engineering, and industrial marketing—students at the school may be asked to carry out a paid, professional project for a company in one of these fields through the AMJE.
All campuses now have their own AMJE (the oldest is over 30 years old), drawing on the ecosystem of the school and its laboratories.
Open to all students
Since 2018, all students—not just those in the Grande École program—have been able to participate in the projects offered by the AMJE.“It’s rewarding because the interns have distinct areas of expertise that we can draw on,” notes Cédric Bonnifay. A student at the Grande Ecole Engineering Programme inCREDA expertise, the president of AMJE Paris until June, previously served as head of business development for the AMJE in Aix-en-Provence. He speaks enthusiastically about these experiences.“It’s like working at a startup. It gives us the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Junior Enterprises are part of the largest student movement in France, and partnerships with JEs from other schools allow us to expand our network.”This year, AMJE Paris has thus established a partnership with Skema Conseil, the Junior Enterprise of Skema Business School.
It's a job that's just like working at a startup. It gives us the basics of entrepreneurship.
From start-ups to major accounts
The newly formed AMJE in Lille signed a partnership agreement with consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in October 2019. The various AMJE groups are part of the local economic fabric. "Sixty percent of our clients are microbusinesses and start-ups," says Cédric Bonnifay. Large companies also call on AMJE services. These include Decathlon in Lille, Publicis, Daher, Grand Frais, and, for the first time, a luxury goods company, Hermès, in Paris.
Involved during the crisis
The AMJE has also been involved in recent months. A sporting and solidarity challenge was set up in Bordeaux. €578 was raised and donated to the Pasteur Institute. "Since the start of lockdown, Arts et Métiers staff Arts et Métiers students have been working hard, for example by making visors for healthcare workers. Through these projects, we are helping to show that Gadzarts are concerned about this crisis and are taking action," says Angéla Ugolin, communications officer for AMJE Bordeaux.
In Paris, CoronHack, a hackathon, was organized. Fifty projects were devised by students, professors, and alumni. The three projects selected by a jury received €500 in financial support from AMJE Paris and communication support. The most interesting projects were forwarded to the government.
The missions did not stop. "Even though the studies were not related to lockdown, companies wanted to maintain their activity, move forward, and outsource projects. We achieved record monthly revenue in April with €15,000," says Cédric Bonnifay.
AMJE Cluny contributed its expertise to create a map of chemistry laboratories in Franche-Comtéfor the company SATT Sayens during the lockdown period.
