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"Guaranteed 100% employment for graduates, teaching faculty equipped with business-oriented minds and a global sense, as well as commitment of the country to invest 3% of GDP on science and technology have made France the strong scientific power that it is today."
Built during the era of imperial government by Napoleon, the École Polytechnique is an educational institution that develops top-level scientific elite for France. President Gabriel de Nomazy of the École Polytechnique stated that the above three factors were the driving force that enabled the school to become a leading university in the area of science and engineering.
We are the first press company in Korea to arrange an interview with the president of École Polytechnique as a part of the special series of "Words from Presidents of Leading Universities Worldwide".
TGV, AIRBUS and the Ariane Spacecraft are well known symbols of advanced science and technology in France. The impetus for such scientific and technological advancement in France comes primarily from the graduates of the École Polytechnique.
President de Nomazy began by addressing a particularly hot issue in Korean scientific circles, the appointment of Professor Laughlin, the Nobel prize winner, as the president of KAIST.
"The achievements of Professor Laughlin will markedly increase the Korean people's interest in science." He also welcomed the news by saying that "the symbolism of a Nobel prize winning president will make a great contribution not only to science and engineering study but also to the reputation of KAIST."
De Nomazy added, however, that "while public interest may be generated by a single star, what's important for continuous advancement of science in the long run is systematic support, not just the reputation of a few."
The educational component of the École Polytechnique is affiliated with the Ministry of National Defense. Its research component is closely related to the CNRS (Center National de la Recherche Scientifique). As an educational institution run by the government and financially supported by the French Ministry of Defense, the École Polytechnique is a school similar to KAIST, in that it that its mission is to produce elite science and technology workers. Munitions is the crème de la crème of advanced industries in France in large measure because the École Polytechnique is affiliated with the Ministry of National Defence.
De Nomazy emphasizes that what drove France, the "country of art" that lopsidedly focused on humanities, to convert into a "strong scientific power" was the painful history of the German invasion during the Second World War.
"What has enabled France to be the scientifically powerful country it is today is the whole-hearted support of the government, and holding fast to the principle of investing 3% of GDP to science." As such, de Nomazy stressed that active government-level support is most essential for achieving scientific advancement.
In addition to the government-level support, various circles and quarters of society that recognize the importance of science and technology also continuously provide support.
"Active support by enterprises, successful collaboration with them, the funding of the École Polytechnique Foundation, and support by graduates are the forces that make our school develop further." He went on to explain that "for the school's continued advancement, we are also seeking to diversify the types of support."
When told about the issue of Korean students not willing to pursue studies in the areas of science at the moment, de Nomazy said, "Graduates of École Polytechnique are guaranteed of 100% employment. The school is also making a huge effort to develop more jobs in the areas of science and engineering so that students can focus on their work."
In other words, a guarantee of livelihood for science students and government-level support will not only solve the problem of students avoiding the areas of science and engineering, it will also facilitate high-quality research.
Also in place is a university-level "outstanding human force development policy" designed to produce the work force desired by enterprises.
Despite having produced the best of the elite and receiving full support from the government, the École Polytechnique continues to exert effort to link academic learning with practical application by making it mandatory for students to undergo on-job training for 18 months, which correspond to 30% of their 4-year enrollment. They are also continuously engaging in joint project developments with enterprises.
"Cooperation with enterprises is a good way of uplifting students' passion about their occupation and their career". He also emphasized that "in particular, interchange and cooperation between the undergraduates and graduates who have advanced into the international market is also one of the good ways to do it."
What enables École Polytechnique, with its 200 year history, to still be recognized not only in France, but throughout the world?
According to President de Nomazy, the École Polytechnique achieved this excellence through "strict screening every five years by outside personnel, together with separation of the faculty into researchers and lecturers."
Also, de Nomazy adds that "in order not to fall behind in the rapidly changing world, it is essential to employ teaching faculty equipped with both business-oriented mind and global sensibility."
In Korea, where confrontation between the South and North, limited resources and economic structure make the country highly dependent on exports to survive, what would he want to pursue first of all if he were to take on major science-related duties in Korea?
"To achieve long-term collaborative relationship by persuading the government and enterprises to secure financial resources", said de Nomazy. In other words, stable "securing of financial resources" is the issue that must be settled before becoming an advanced country of science.
Expressing his keen interest in nano engineering and electronic engineering of Korea, de Nomazy showed enthusiasm in scientific exchange with Korea. "When I am given an opportunity to visit Korea as a part of a program for scientific development in Asia, I will be only too happy to do so."
"I am already working with Korean colleagues in several research labs." To express the intention for mutual cooperation between France and Korea, de Nomazy said, "I anticipate student and teacher exchange in the areas of optical science, information and communications, scientific technology and communications engineering, which are the major areas we are focusing on."
Graduated from an aviation school, de Nomazy was a former fighter pilot. When asked about what he found attractive about being a scientist, he replied, "I can be engaged in creative activities that allow me to profoundly reflect on myself and to meet the society's requirements. I became a scientist with a passion for long-term human relationship that transcends the merely commercial environment."
Stressing that "the military march that takes place each year in the Arc de Triomphe is led not by the Military Academy, but the students of the École Polytechnique", de Nomazy delivered a message with a poetic touch to the scientific circle of Korea that "tomorrow's gold comes from today's intellects."