OREANDA-NEWS. Schneider Electric, the Schneider Electric Foundation and the CIEP of the French Ministry for National Education, Higher Education and Research have signed a partnership agreement to develop synergies between their initiatives in the field of international training. The signing ceremony was held on 8 June 2016 in Paris and was attended by Luc R?mont, executive Vice-President, France Operation at Schneider Electric, Daniel Assouline, Director of the CIEP and Gilles Vermot-Desroches, General Delegate of the Schneider Electric Foundation.

 The partnership’s main field of focus will be energy, renewable energy, energy transition and efficiency, and energy access assistance to developing countries. Its initiatives will also cover the sectors involved in the engineering of technical and professional teaching and training systems in secondary and higher education, digital tools and materials, diploma recognition and the exercise of trades, as well as international mobility. It should expand the exchange of information, documentary resources and best practices internationally through the joint design and creation of projects within the framework of calls for projects and tenders for intracommunity or international programmes as well as the design and creation of expertise and training products. 

The three establishments also plan to create vocationnal training centres, with the development of work-study programmes and apprenticeships, as well as the integration of underprivileged people to training solutions.

“Schneider Electric has a long history of cooperation with the French Ministry of National Education and plays an active role in energy education. We are always willing and delighted to strengthen cooperation between business and education to build new synergies” says Gilles Vermot Desroches.

Schneider Electric’s commitment to education and vocational training is deeply rooted in its history: its Ecole des m?tiers de l’Energie Paul Louis Merlin (college providing training in the energy education), located in Grenoble, has given students the opportunity to further their school achievements since 1929. This is illustrated in France and in developing countries through its initiatives in the areas of apprenticeships, integration of young people and development of energy access.