The Congrès des Grandes Écoles recently published the results of its survey on the path to learning within the Grandes Écoles and its growing place. 112 CGE member schools participated in this study. A unique barometer which tends to show the growing importance of this new method of training, which is increasingly sought after by young students and employers.
“Apprenticeship is a real key to youth employment”, explains Laurent Champaney, president of the CGE and director of Arts & Métiers ParisTech. This first barometer reveals that the number of work-study students in PGEs increased by 43% between 2019 and 2022. This study was sent to 230 member schools of the CGE, its results are based on the responses of the 112 responding schools. Among the respondents, there are 58% from engineering schools, 20% from management, and 22% from various specialties (art, political science, etc.).
If this training had difficulty getting started, apprenticeship is increasingly sought after both by students who wish to discover the professional world, and by employers who wish to train apprentices with the aim of having employees in their ranks perfectly trained and autonomous.
Work-study training, the ideal tool to prepare for the professional world
The CGE study confirms that young talents who have followed a work-study training course fit better into the world of work and have a much easier time finding jobs on average more stablemore qualified and more remunerative. In addition, according to the survey, work-study students at Grandes Écoles have an average net monthly salary above the average.
Although an obvious plus for integration into the professional world, apprenticeship is also a vector of social diversity. According to the CGE barometer, the work-study sector is a vector of social openness, 25% of apprentices were on scholarships before starting an apprenticeship, which shows that this sector, which covers all the students’ tuition fees, allows them to to flourish within establishments where tuition fees are sometimes criticized. Indeed, the survey estimates that the children of employees and workers are more represented among apprentices.
Alternation versus international mobility
But what about international mobility? If students are on a work-study contract, they cannot logically go abroad to study and go on exchange. “We need to think about reforming this system. Mobility cannot be to the detriment of students, especially since it is fundamental in training and generates additional costs. explains Laurent Champaney. Some establishments are also working on this subject.
The State hopes for 1 million apprentices in 2027
The Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, has made it her priority, she has set the number of apprentices targeted for 2027 at 1 million. Financial aid taken during the pandemic is extended until December 31, 2022, proof that the State encourages companies to hire apprentices. Thanks to this assistance, the cost of a work-study student’s first year is only low for an employer. See you in 2027 to take stock.
