Eddy Obeid is in his third year of the Grande Ecole Program. Born in Lebanon, he lived part of his life in Saudi Arabia before coming to study in France at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Bordeaux-Talence.
How was your arrival in France after graduating from high school?
I attended a French international school when I was in Saudi Arabia. I took my baccalaureate there before coming to France to do my preparatory class at the Lycée Marie Curie in Nogent-sur-Oise.
Ranked 177th in the Arts et Métiers competition, I was able to choose my campus. I decided to spend my first two years of the Grande Ecole Program at the Bordeaux-Talence campus, as I was particularly attracted to the region. In my third year, the year of specialization, I chose a dual degree program with the National University of Cordoba in Argentina.
Why did you choose Argentina?
First of all, because I didn't know this country, and I was very curious to discover a new culture on the other side of the world! Before starting my second semester of studies, I was able to take a two-month trip between Argentina and Bolivia, which was an incredible experience. I was able to discover new cultures and improve my Spanish. I have a real appetite for learning languages! I speak Arabic, English, French, and now Spanish fluently. I'm also trying to learn German.
The National University of Cordoba is very well known in Argentina. The university offers a program that matches what I want to specialize in: industrial engineering. The classes were interesting, and we studied subjects related to industrial engineering, such as economics and logistics. Originally, this international experience was supposed to be a dual degree program lasting a total of a year and a half. Unfortunately, the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to return to France earlier than planned, and I was unable to complete the entire program to obtain the dual degree. That said, I was able to adapt my course of study to have my two semesters in Argentina validated and complete an end-of-studies internship to finalize my education at the Arts.
Where does your interest in international affairs come from?
I had already traveled extensively before, and my brother really made me want to go to Argentina, a country located on a continent I didn't know. He himself had been to Argentina during his studies for four months and loved the experience. In addition, my parents have always supported me in my choices and allowed me to make this opportunity a reality. Finally, Lebanese people have traveled extensively, and there are many Lebanese people all over the world (the Syrian-Lebanese community is the third largest ethnic group in Argentina), and there is even a Lebanese community in Argentina! So, I think that internationalism is part of my Lebanese identity.
What did you learn from this experience abroad?
My stay was very fulfilling and enriching, from an academic, cultural, and personal point of view! I was alone on the other side of the world, which pushed me to adapt more and open up to a completely different culture... I was very surprised by the lifestyle, their kindness, and their sense of hospitality!
The academic system is closer to that of a university than to the teaching provided at the Arts. There is more personal work and theory. It actually complements my engineering training in France quite well.
Having lived in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, France, and Argentina, and thus having been enriched by four different systems, I have been able to form my own personal view of society and life in general. Opening myself up to other cultures has taught me a lot. I think that any experience abroad is a great asset. You shouldn't be afraid to take the plunge, because you learn a lot from these kinds of experiences. You never feel alone, and you can meet people from all walks of life, both local and international, with whom you can share a lot.
Why is it important for engineers to be open to international opportunities?
Because it is a powerful experience in every respect. It allows you to open up to others and accept a different culture. But the most important thing is to see how things work, from a technological point of view, for example. From an engineering and scientific perspective, it is important to complement your training and your way of understanding things and reasoning, to find possible solutions through multiple lines of reasoning.
Arts et Métiers students Arts et Métiers a generalist course of study, and the international dimension complements our degree well: we learn to be versatile in many ways.
Would you like to work internationally after graduation?
I am just starting my internship at ETYO Logistics Solutions, a subsidiary of the ETYO Group. This group is expanding rapidly and its workforce is growing fast. I will be working in the logistics division. This experience confirms my career path, which focuses on industrial project management aimed at optimizing space organization while taking into account constraints and the flow of people and materials.
After that, I would like to work in industrial engineering, logistics, or supply chain management, ideally with international assignments. I am very curious to see how things work elsewhere! I would also really like to travel to participate in forums and training courses, open up new markets, and so on.
