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Can France Create Its Own MIT?

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Re: Can France Create Its Own MIT?

#11

Post by makapuf »

nolok wrote: post #10
occamrazor wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

EP and ENS are both excellent schools. I am a mathematician and mathematics is more traditionally associated with ENS than with EP, but I've met excellent mathematicians, at all level of career (from PhD student to full professor) from both schools. My impression is that all the French Grandes Ecoles are trying to expand their range of activities and subjects, reducing the level of diversification.

Well I guess "more traditionally associated" is one way to put it, but... 11 out of France's 12 fields medal came from people who studied at ENS. The only other country to even have 11 or more fields medal is the USA at 13. They literally exude math competency.

Having been in the selection in grande ecoles - and having been in one of those myself - EP is definitely a school of engineers and ens a school of researchers/professors. All of our teachers were from ens. Not that there aren't researchers in so or my own grande ecole but I have seen people refuse to go to ep to attempt and the next year. But those schools really are top notch, each in their own way.

Re: Can France Create Its Own MIT?

#14

Post by [deleted] »

tormeh wrote: post #5

Honestly sounds too big. Isn't a bit of the appeal of elite institutions that they put elite people in close proximity to each other? Adding a lot of padding* in between them would make it harder for them to find and get to know each other. *I am fully aware that in this context I am considered padding

[deleted]

Re: Can France Create Its Own MIT?

#15

Post by sddfd »

France already has an excellent research system, and the phrase "create its own MIT" is ambiguous at best: This is mainly about branding to increase international visibility of the institutions.

Re: Can France Create Its Own MIT?

#16

Post by elcomet »

CentraleSupelec is France's best attempt to match MIT (more than 1000 students each year). It was formed from the merger of Centrale Paris and Supelec schools.

And it's a unique school, not like this merger: it's a reunion of several schools that want to keep their independance. I think it'll be harder for them to act in coordination to achieve their goals.

Re: Can France Create Its Own MIT?

#17

Post by curiousgal »

3D13158219 wrote: post #9

I doubt it. Laboratories which teach and work in English have a huge advantage in modern academia because they are able to draw in talent from a far larger pool. The majority of international academics working in France are from other Romance language countries. I presume the other Romance language countries have the same problem as France.

Having done research in both the U.S. and France, the latter is far better simply because of the general life quality.

Language is not really that big of a factor. The U.S. definitely provides better research ressources but when you look at your life as a researcher as a whole, France is the better option.

Re: Can France Create Its Own MIT?

#18

Post by relyio »

ninguem2 wrote: post #2

Why isn't the ENS part of this? The best math and science students go there.

Political/Administrative reasons mostly.

ENS and l'X (Ecole Polytechnique) in particular hold special statuses (each in their respective way) vis-a-vis the French state.

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