Michal KOLENIČ is currently a third-year student in the Grande Ecole Program at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Cluny, specializing in Factory of the Future: From Prototyping to UGV (PROTeUS). He looks back on his experience studying for a double degree at Arts et Métiers.
ACQUIRING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN THE FRENCH LANGUAGE
Michal did not speak French at all, but eager to learn the language, he studied at a bilingual French high school in Slovakia. He improved his French skills by spending 20 hours a week speaking and writing in math, biology, chemistry, and physics classes.
I was also able to discover French literature.
ENRICH YOURSELF WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES
After graduating from high school, Michal wanted to pursue a career in engineering. He was passionate about cars and aeronautics. He enrolled at Brno University of Technology (BUT) in the Czech Republic. When he applied to study for a dual degree with Arts et Métiers, Michal wanted to benefit from two different systems and make the most of them in order to become independent in his professional project and enrich himself with French culture.
He arrived at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Cluny in 2018 and benefited from a week of immersion before the start of the academic year for first-year students in the "Grande Ecole Program" thanks to the ParisTech international student integration module.
During this module, I stayed with a family in Cluny and was able to introduce the other students to my culture and learn about theirs.
He shared a week of integration into French lifestyle and culture with around twenty international students representing 11 different nationalities. These students were enrolled in two institutions, Arts et Métiers the Institut d'Optique de Paris, at the start of the 2018 academic year. This week of integration was essential for getting used to speaking French throughout the day and made the start of the school year much easier.
The selection process takes place in the Czech Republic, and the criteria for admission to Arts et Métiers very demanding, emphasizes Andela Ceau Dura, Head of the European and International Relations Office.
As with competitive examinations in France, candidates must have a good knowledge of physics, mathematics, and technical sciences. In addition, a solid level of language proficiency is required. Candidates must have a good command of French, as all teaching at Arts et Métiers conducted in French. And since one year of this program is taught in English, it is also necessary to have a good level of English.
Studying at two schools means meeting the requirements of both. This was the case, for example, during my first year atArts et Métiers I wrote a bachelor's thesis for the BUT while attending classes in Cluny. As for the experimental part of my thesis, which took the form of tests, I carried them out during the Easter holidays when I was back in the Czech Republic.
FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION FOR MACHINING
In 2019, he returned to the Czech Republic to complete his fourth year, equivalent to his second year in the Grande Ecole Program in France. Michal specializes in machining and takes courses in aeronautics and robotic systems.
That year, all my classes were in English.
Since September 2020, Michal has returned to Cluny to complete his dual degree program with a specialization in Factory of the Future: From Prototyping to UGV (PROTeUS). The first semester is dedicated to classes, and for the second semester, Michal must find an End-of-Study Internship (SFE). He will be evaluated by a joint jury, made up of his teachers in France as well as those from the university in the Czech Republic. Both his defense and written report must be submitted in English.
I am looking for a company in France for my SFE.
Michal sees his professional future in France, because he believes it is the most advanced country in the field of aerospace. He therefore wants to focus on this particular field, which he is growing to appreciate more and more. He is looking for an internship where he can combine his knowledge of machining with his passion for aerospace.
My end-of-studies internship may be compatible with the fields in which I am trained as an expert, particularly the machining of titanium- and nickel-based materials. This is also one of the reasons why I chose to complete my studies in titanium drilling.
SERVING ONE'S FELLOW STUDENTS
Michal didn't hesitate for a second when Fabien Viprey, head of expertise, opened applications to become the educational representative (DAP). When he arrived in his first year, he was in a similar situation. His classmates listened to him and gave him advice, and he is happy to play this role today with his classmates.
My first year on campus was a great asset to me, and I am proud that my classmates chose me to be their representative to the administration. I am available to guide them around the campus and also around the city, which I know well.
Michal sees his role as DAP as a challenge and hopes that these new responsibilities will help him develop his interpersonal skills and thus achieve his goals.
