Recognising engineering as ‘at the heart of the challenges of the 21st century’ is a key focus for France this academic year (2025-2026).
France’s Année de l’ingénierie (Year of Engineering) aims to highlight the critical role of engineering in addressing challenges of the 21st century, promote engineering careers and address societal challenges.
In particular, the Ministry of National Education notes that engineering ‘works to meet scientific and technological challenges in fields as diverse as health, food, the environment, the processing industry, transport, energy, building and construction, and telecommunications.’
Objectives of the year include:
- fostering a pleasure for learning and practising science
- encouraging young people to purse careers in engineering by promoting STEM in educational pathways
- encouraging young people to undertake scientific qualifications
- supporting France’s ‘Filles et maths’ action plan by especially encouraging young girls to undertake scientific qualifications and pursue engineering careers
- strengthening collaboration between education, research and engineering to promote diverse engineering careers
- advancing interdisciplinary approaches – integrating physics, chemistry, life sciences and digital technology
- preparing future citizens to understand the world around them and grasp societal and environmental challenges
- practising the scientific method to develop critical thinking in a changing educational world.
As part of this initiative, the Ministry is working to bring professionals in the engineering industry (such as engineers, technicians and researchers) and educators together to give high school students opportunities to meet and learn from those in the field. This may be done in the classroom, at a company or in a laboratory. They also aim to support students in learning more about engineering through work experience placements; having returning alumni talking at their previous schools about their journeys; a series of remote masterclasses where students can ask questions and learn about current research; and a dedicated website of helpful resources and information, plus, access to competitions to encourage participation.
The Year of Engineering is also linked to an aim from France 2030’s investment plan, ‘regaining industrial sovereignty and reindustrialisation’. An investment in engineering can help in these areas:
- adaption and mitigation of climate change
- preservation of resources and biodiversity
- strengthening France’s strategic autonomy
- improving resilience of its economy.
Learn more
References
- Eurydice (2026) ‘France: “Année de l’ingénierie 2025-2026” – Promoting engineering careers and addressing societal challenges’. Available at: https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/news/france-annee-de-lingenierie-2025-2026-promoting-engineering-careers-and-addressing-societal (Accessed: 12 May 2026)
- Ministry of National Education (2026) ‘Année de l’ingénierie 2025-2026″. Available at: https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/news/france-annee-de-lingenierie-2025-2026-promoting-engineering-careers-and-addressing-societal (Accessed: 12 mAY 2026)
