The Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Cluny has been running a Cordée de la Réussite program for several years. We meet Adrien Petit, who benefited from the program and is now a student in the Grande Ecole Program, and Isabelle Duband, professor of Materials Science and equal opportunities and diversity officer.
69 student volunteers in Cluny
"I benefited from a Cordée de la Réussite program when I was in my final year of high school,so naturally, when Isabelle Duband presented the program at the beginning of the year, I volunteered," explainsAdrien Petit, now in his first year of the Grande École program in Cluny.
Adrien is one of 69 Arts et Métiers students Arts et Métiers Cluny participating in this year's Cordée program run by the campus. Cordées de la Réussite are interministerial programs designed to develop open-mindedness and academic ambition among young people from modest backgrounds, primarily those living in priority neighborhoods identified by urban policy or in isolated rural areas. A Cordée is a partnership between secondary schools and one or more higher education institutions.
Tutoring and cultural outings
"In practical terms, Arts et Métiers students Arts et Métiers a few hours of tutoring each week to 78 middle and high school students from five schools, four middle schools and one high school," explains Isabelle Duband, who coordinates the program in Cluny.The aim is to provide academic support to students, but also to introduce them to science and technology as well as artistic culture. We also organize one-off events such as trips to museums or film festivals. Above all, the aim is to improve the self-esteem and self-confidence of the young people we support. Isabelle Duband has planned around 20 activities for the year, including exchanges between middle and high school students and Arts et Métiers students Arts et Métiers engineering studies and gender diversity in these programs, trips to the cinema, theater, and museums, an introduction to science and technology during the Fête de la Science, and meetings with professionals.
Bringing openness to higher education
"This program is important because it contributes to the social openness of higher education," concludes Isabelle Duband. "It also helps raise awareness of our school and shows young people from modest backgrounds that it is possible to come here. A young woman who recently graduated fromArts et Métiers from our Cordée program when she was a student at Cluny High School! It also allows us to have privileged contacts with the school board, middle and high school principals, and the prefect's delegate for urban policy. But what really drives me to run this program is the relationships I build with the student mentors and the positive impact it has on the young people who benefit from the Cordée.This program deserves to be better known withinArts et Métiers."
"When I receive an email from Isabelle, I respond quickly," adds Adrien Petit."I make it a point of honor to never be absent because the students need us. We have to stay connected.And interacting with 8th and 9th graders is enriching. It's a great experience in terms of communication!"
In Aix-en-Provence too
The Aix campus has been participating in the Cordées de la Réussite program since 2017 with AFEV, a popular education association, and GaSole. This program, coordinated by Marion Robert, head of external and international relations, is run in partnership with the Vauvenargues high school, with which the campus has close ties. It receives financial support from the Ministry of National Education and Youth, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, and the General Commission for Territorial Equality.
This year, four first-year students volunteered to be tutors.
