École Polytechnique for Women: France's first private university to train female engineers.

The Ecole Polytechnique Feminine (EPF) is France's first private university-level institution dedicated to providing engineering education specifically for women. Founded in Paris in 1925 by Marie-Louise, it aimed to break down societal limitations on women's career choices and offer them access to high-quality engineering education. As a landmark educational institution in French history, the EPF has not only witnessed the rise of women in science and technology but has also become a vital force in promoting gender equality and technological innovation.

Today, EPF has developed into a modern, international, and highly recognized engineering school, attracting students from all over the world with its excellent teaching quality and rigorous academic atmosphere. The school awards engineering diplomas jointly recognized by the French National Institute of Engineering and the French Engineering Qualifications (CTI), which not only highly affirms students' professional abilities but also provides graduates with a solid guarantee for entering the global job market.

EPF's curriculum covers multiple fields, including engineering, science, economics, management, and medicine, fully embodying the characteristics of interdisciplinary integration. By combining theoretical learning with practical application, EPF is committed to cultivating future engineers with innovative abilities, an international perspective, and a sense of social responsibility. In addition, the university offers multi-level educational programs, including undergraduate, master's, and language centers, to meet the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds.

Historical Development: From Founding to Modern Era

The history of EPF dates back to 1925, an era when gender discrimination was still deeply entrenched. At that time, despite significant advancements in science and technology, women's participation in these fields was extremely limited. It was against this backdrop that Mary Louise decided to found a school dedicated to women's engineering education, hoping to change societal perceptions of women's roles and open doors to the world of technology for more women.

Initially, EPF consisted of only a small classroom and a limited number of teachers, but it quickly gained a reputation for its unwavering commitment and innovative teaching methods. Over time, the school expanded, gradually adding new academic disciplines and facilities. By the mid-20th century, EPF had become a highly influential institution for women's engineering education in France and even Europe.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, EPF has continued to evolve, actively embracing globalization while maintaining its traditional strengths. The university has strengthened its partnerships with internationally renowned universities, launching more dual-degree programs and overseas exchange opportunities. Simultaneously, to meet the demands of modern society for multi-skilled professionals, EPF has further optimized its curriculum, incorporating cutting-edge topics such as sustainable development and digital transformation into its teaching content.

Education System: Emphasizing Both Diversity and Specialization

EPF's educational system is known for its diversity and specialization. The school offers educational programs at multiple levels, including undergraduate, master's, and language training centers, providing students with a wide range of choices.

Undergraduate Programs

For students who have just graduated from high school or have equivalent qualifications, EPF's undergraduate program is undoubtedly the ideal starting point. The three-year program covers core courses such as basic mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science, while also emphasizing the development of students' communication skills, teamwork abilities, and leadership.

At the undergraduate level, students can choose different specializations based on their personal interests and career plans, such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and electrical and electronic engineering. Each specialization is equipped with a team of experienced professors who not only impart professional knowledge but also guide students to think independently and conduct critical analysis.

Master's Program

After completing their undergraduate studies, students can choose to pursue a Master's degree at EPF to deepen their research in a specific field. These Master's programs typically last two years, with more in-depth and specialized curricula, and require students to complete a high-quality research paper or participate in a real-world engineering project.

EPF's master's programs cover a wide range of fields, including energy management, environmental engineering, and biomedical engineering. Furthermore, the university has established close ties with numerous multinational corporations, providing master's students with abundant internship and employment opportunities.

Language Center

Recognizing that some international students may face language barriers, EPF has established a language center to provide intensive French and English language training courses. These courses not only help students improve their language skills but also enable them to better integrate into the local culture and social environment.

The language center employs a small class teaching model to ensure that each student receives sufficient attention and support. In addition, the center organizes various cultural exchange activities to promote mutual understanding and friendship among students of different nationalities.

Program Structure: Interdisciplinary and Innovation-Driven

EPF's curriculum fully embodies the characteristics of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation leadership. The school currently mainly offers the following major categories of majors:

Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering: This major focuses on cultivating students' abilities in product design, manufacturing processes, and materials science. Graduates can find ideal jobs in fields such as aerospace and automobile manufacturing.
• Civil Engineering: Focuses on teaching knowledge in infrastructure construction, urban planning, and environmental protection, suitable for students who wish to pursue a career in the construction industry.
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering: With the rapid development of information technology, this major has a very broad employment prospect, covering multiple sub-fields such as communication technology and automation control.

Science

• Applied Mathematics: Through the study of tools such as statistics and operations research, it helps students solve complex real-world problems and is widely applied in industries such as finance and insurance.
• Physics: Exploring the nature of matter and its laws of motion, and cultivating outstanding talents for high-tech fields such as new energy development and materials science.

Economics and Management

• Business Management: Combining engineering and technical knowledge with business management skills, this program aims to cultivate well-rounded talents who are both technically proficient and skilled in management.
• International Economics: Focusing on global economic dynamics and changes in trade policies, helping students seize opportunities in the wave of globalization.

Medical

• Biomedical engineering combines engineering principles with life sciences to develop new medical devices and technologies to improve human health.

International cooperation: a bridge connecting the world

As a future-oriented international institution, EPF highly values ​​cooperation and exchange with higher education institutions in other countries and regions. Currently, the university has signed cooperation agreements with over 80 top universities worldwide, including world-renowned institutions such as MIT and TUM.

Through these partnerships, EPF students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of international exchange programs, such as short-term exchange student programs, joint research projects, and dual-degree programs. For example, the collaboration with MIT allows outstanding undergraduates to study in the United States for a semester, experiencing firsthand the world's most advanced technological innovation environment; while the collaboration with TUM allows graduate students to earn degrees from both universities, significantly enhancing their international competitiveness.

Beyond academic collaborations, EPF actively participates in various international conferences and forums, sharing its successful experiences in women's engineering education while also learning advanced concepts and practices from other peers. This two-way interaction not only promotes knowledge dissemination but also contributes to building a more equitable and inclusive global education ecosystem.

Campus life: a rich and diverse cultural experience

EPF offers a vibrant and diverse campus life, with the school striving to create an open and inclusive learning environment that allows students to enjoy fulfilling and enjoyable extracurricular time while pursuing academic achievements.

Club activities

The school boasts numerous student clubs covering a wide range of fields, including sports, arts, and technology. Whether passionate about basketball or dedicated to photography, every student can find their own circle of interests. These clubs not only enrich students' extracurricular life but also provide them with platforms to showcase their talents and develop leadership skills.

Cultural Festivals

Every year, EPF organizes a number of cultural festivals to celebrate traditional holidays from different countries and regions. For example, the Spring Festival Gala and the Diwali celebrations attract a large number of teachers and students, who enhance their understanding and friendship through song and dance performances, food sharing, and other activities.

Career development support

To help students smoothly transition into their careers, EPF has established a dedicated Careers Services Centre, offering services such as resume writing guidance and mock interview training. In addition, the school regularly invites industry experts to give lectures on campus, sharing the latest market trends and job-seeking tips.

Looking to the Future: Shaping a New Era of Female Engineers

Looking back on its nearly 100-year history, EPF has remained true to its original mission: to create better engineering education opportunities for women. Looking ahead, the school will continue to uphold this mission, focusing its efforts on the following areas:

• We will further expand enrollment to attract more outstanding female students to join the EPF family.
• Increase investment in research and development, especially in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and clean energy, to achieve breakthroughs.
• We will deepen our internationalization strategy, expand our partnerships with more high-quality partners, and provide students with more opportunities for overseas study and internships.
• Optimize campus facilities construction to create a more intelligent and green learning and living environment.

In conclusion, EPF is not only an outstanding institution for nurturing female engineers, but also a vital force in promoting gender equality and social progress. Here, every student will find a stage to realize their self-worth and collectively write their own brilliant chapter.

If you would like to learn more about EPF, please visit its official website: www.epf.fr.