École Polytechnique and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) signed an agreement to establish a master's education exchange program on March 5, 2013. This program allows selected students from both institutions to follow an intensive joint program in Aeronautics or Space Engineering, as well as Mechanics (both fluids and solids).
This agreement, the first of its kind signed by Caltech, results from the fruitful relationship between the two institutions, which have been exchanging students as well as visiting professors and scientists for many years. The dual master's degree program between Caltech and École Polytechnique, which pre-dates the Educational Exchange program, won the Institute of International Education Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education, in the category of International Exchange Partnerships.
"I am honored to have been part of the small group who met at the CNES offices in Paris and concieved of this award winning program eight years ago," remarks Ares J. Rosakis, Caltech's Theodore von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering as well as Chair of the Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Science. "It is wonderful to see the program evolve and be considered an exemplary model of international collaboration."
Caltech, home of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, works more specifically with École Polytechnique's Hydrodynamics Laboratory and Solids Mechanics Laboratory, as well as French organizations such as the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) or the French Aerospace Lab (Onera), which are also closely related to École Polytechnique. This educational exchange program will thus reinforce the existing cooperation between Caltech and École Polytechnique and foster the development of a long-term partnership on basic research topics of interest to the Aerospace and Aeronautical Sciences community.
"I am delighted by this program which further expands the relationship between two great institutions," said Caltech president Jean-Lou Chameau. Yves Demay, head of École Polytechnique, adds: "École Polytechnique is developing strategic partnerships worldwide with a few selected institutions, chosen for their unique scientific expertise, such as Caltech. Students and scientists from both institutions will benefit from this double degree program, which will ensure regular and reciprocal exchanges between our research center and Caltech's.
The program spans two academic years; students spend a year at each institution. Along with the two partnering institutions the program has also been supported by the Partner University Fund. Upon completion of the program, the students will receive both a Master's degree in Mechanics from École Polytechnique and a Master's degree in Aeronautics or Space Engineering from Caltech. The institutions will share equally in covering the students' expenses (tuition, mandatory fees and stipend).