Most of the students came from the School of Electronic, Information and Electrical Engineering, a department of SJTU which works closely with INSA Lyon. This strong cooperation includes research collaborations, student exchanges, a joint programme called SPE-T: (Specific Program of Engineering in Telecommunications) and a double degree agreement which is under way.

The programme was elaborated by the International Relations Office of INSA Lyon in collaboration with the Centre of Humanities, the department of French as a foreign language, and professors from different departments and laboratories; Telecommunications, AMPERE, CREATIS, CITI and LIRIS – as well as external partners.

The objectives of the summer programme were to learn about European Perspectives in Engineering & Innovation, the research conducted at INSA Lyon, the French educational system and the different possibilities of student mobility between the institutions: academic exchange, Master of Science Degree, Double Degree, Post-Master or PhD.

More generally, the summer programme emphasised the high level of technology in the Rhône-Alpes region which is a major centre of excellence in science.

During the summer school, students benefited from a high quality training programme integrating innovative pedagogy and entrepreneurship. The summer school included lectures about innovation, lab visits, company visits… a way to gain theoretical knowledge while discovering the world of work.

Nowadays, engineers must not only master science but they must also be able to work in a globalized world and in cross-cultural teams:
In addition to the scientific programme, students followed French language and culture classes and participated in cultural and social activities which allowed them to appreciate the rich heritage of the Rhône-Alpes region, experience French culture and better understand cultural differences.

Some of the highlights:

Visit to Pôle Pixel, an innovative cinema and image cluster; presentation of Awabot research on educative robots; guided visit of “Le Vieux Lyon” (Old Lyon) area before going to the modern architectural area of Lyon “La Confluence”; visit to the Lumière Institute about the beginning of colour photos and cinema: we even stood at the gates of the Lumière factory where the first real motion picture was ever made; visits to the Lyon Fine Arts Museum, the mediaeval city of Pérouges, and Chamonix - where a cable car took us to the "Aiguille du midi" at an altitude of 3,842 meters to see the magnificent Mont Blanc; dinner at a typical restaurant of Lyon…

What is more, the Chinese Consulate of Lyon attended the inauguration cocktail and the group was welcomed at the Lyon City Hall and the headquarters of the Rhône-Alpes Region.

We hope that the 3-week stay in France will remain a valuable international experience for the students and that it has broadened their horizons, their thinking and their studying/working opportunities for the future. They are more than welcome to come back to INSA Lyon!

The International Relations Office would like to thank all its internal and external partners who contributed to the success of the programme.