After a refreshing summer break, the new academic year got underway, allowing everyone to reconnect in the best possible conditions. This included students and learners from the post-baccalaureate , Grande Ecole, SciencesCom, MS®, MSc, international and Executive Education programs! Without wishing to devalue or omit certain events, here is a look at some of the highlights from August and September.
- Bachelor in Management
First-year students attended their back-to-school conference (held in a movie theater in Nantes and in the Greater Paris area) on the theme of Space. This theme, which had already been touched upon during their admission interviews, was explored in greater depth through an inspiring meeting with leading figures in the aerospace field, including Chloé Carrière, aerospace engineer and science communicator; Allan Petre, aerospace engineer at NASA; and Cécile Roques, members of the Space Women Alliance. They also had the opportunity to meet their class sponsor, Thomas Mathieu, CEO of Guest Suite, founder of Les Foulées du Numérique, and president of La Cantine x French Tech Nantes.
This conference broadened the students' perspective on a subject that is, at first glance, very scientific, by showing them that it requires a wide variety of profiles and skills. The speakers' testimonials, rich in experience and unique career paths, sparked curiosity, motivation, and inspiration.
After two days of business games (September 3 and 4), the week continued with a sports seminar on Friday. This was a special opportunity for students to get to know each other better and strengthen bonds within their class.
- Grande Ecole Program
The inaugural conference, intended for all first-year students, was held on September 1 at the Cité des Congrès in Nantes. The program included a shared experience focused on inspiration and openness to the future.
After an introduction by Cindy Zawadski, Director of the Grande Ecole Program, students had the opportunity to attend a captivating presentation by Chloé Carrière, aerospace engineer and science communicator. Her presentation, punctuated by an interactive quiz, highlighted the scientific, economic, and technological challenges associated with this rapidly expanding sector.
The morning continued with a round table discussion, moderated by Chloé Carrière and bringing together several renowned experts in the space field:
• Isabelle Sourbes-Vergès, research director at the CNRS and specialist in space policy,
• Carole Deniel, head of the atmospheric space program at the CNES,
• Tristan Laurent, CEO of Absolut Sensing.
Beyond the presentations, this conference was an inspiring opportunity for students to come together and reflect on their career plans. Space, often perceived as distant, was presented as a strategic and accessible field for the future, combining scientific ambition, societal challenges, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
In the wake of this, these same students were encouraged to participate in the Challenge Days, the integration seminar that marks the start of their journey.
For two days, they were immersed in an intense collective experience, centered around a common theme: ocean conservation.
Divided into teams, the students had to tackle seven different challenges, combining strategic thinking and creativity. But the Challenge Days are not just an academic exercise. They aim to develop essential cross-disciplinary skills: knowing how to collaborate, daring to defend original ideas, exercising critical thinking, and finding concrete solutions to complex problems.