Master of Science in Engineering "Diplôme d'Ingénieur" - Increase your skills throughout your study program

Specific learning scenarios

Companies recognize that students don't only acquire skills in the lecture hall. At IMT Atlantique, we have developed specific learning scenarios that go beyond teaching theory, placing students in situations where they can apply and deepen their knowledge.

Throughout the semester, projects and Context-Based Learning (CBL) are on offer. While both methods are based on authentic multi-disciplinary professional situations, they have different objectives. Context-based learning, offered throughout the first year, focuses on the primary scientific and technical skills associated with the material covered in class.

As for projects, they follow one after the other throughout the three years of study and aim to  help students progressively develop the cross-disciplinary skills required by every engineer (project management, oral and written communication, intercultural team management, leadership, etc.).

Through a number of realistic experiences in the field, you will progressively develop and reinforce your skills as you apply your know-how and creativity. Autonomy and collaborative development in multicultural groups are key factors, and, above all, a guarantee of solid high-level training

Right from the start...

Context-Based Learning (CBL) and projects come into play in your first-year programme. This method of learning through experience, in realistic situations found in the professional world, offers you the opportunity to draw on and develop a variety of generic and cross-disciplinary skills in different areas.

With the support of the teaching staff, through "learn by doing" CBL or CBL/Projects, it is through the design and development of engineering systems that you will address issues relating to social and human sciences, electronics, physics, networked systems and information technology. 
 

Two projects in first year will lead you to gradually discover, apply and progress in cross-disciplinary skills. Teamwork, along with the design and development of engineering systems, are at the heart of the "learn by doing" project (Projet Faire pour apprendre) in first semester and are reinforced by raising awareness of aspects of quality, cost and lead times during the second semester.

In this way, by the end of the first year, you will have taken on board and mastered the basic concepts of project management.

In second and third year...

The intentional continuation of a "project-based" approach to learning will have you focus on responding to an order from an external client, at the beginning of the second year. Just like a professional, you will draw on your know-how and skills to write a statement of work as a first step. Secondly, you will bring to the fore the strengths of your proposal to implement solid and concrete solutions in response to the original order.

Then, gradually, you will be offered an initiation to the world of  innovation, entrepreneurship and research in the form of a "Lean innovation" project, followed by a research, entrepreneurship or technological implementation-oriented personal project. Here, the goal is to enlarge the spectrum of your knowledge, and above all to familiarise yourself with these areas.

Finally, at the end of your programme, a more complex "multi-dimensional" project will bring together cross-disciplinary skills with the professional skills gained through your areas of specialisation. This project joins together the organisational, technical and scientific skills acquired throughout your programme, thus providing an authentic progression toward a professional context. At this point you will have become a high-level engineer capable of responding to diverse professional situations.
 

Throughout this process of field learning through projects, what are the cross-disciplinary skills you will be able to develop?

• understanding, analysing and summarising a problem and/or a complex situation
• solving a complex problem by bringing together theory and practice
• designing and implementing systems and organisations
•  assessing and making decisions, and presenting arguments
• innovating and taking action in a context of complexity and uncertainty
•  managing an innovative, complex, risky or high-stakes project
• facilitating and managing a team using different management styles

• working with others, particularly in international and intercultural environments

• communicating in different contexts with different partners

• making decisions and taking action while accounting for societal challenges

• reflecting on yourself, your skills and experiences

• demonstrating commitment