International exposure – École d'Ingénieurs de PURPAN

International exposure

When it comes to preparing future engineers for an increasingly globalised workplace and cluing them into the agricultural, economic and cultural realities surrounding them, PURPAN firmly believes in maximising their exposure to the international arena.

The School puts a series of teaching methods and offers into practice to give all students chance to enjoy a three-month international experience in an English-speaking country. Close to 95% of our students follow at least two extended placements abroad during their course (i.e. a total of approximately nine months).

Interpersonal skills development and language teachers play an integral role in these international placements.

Therefore, international mobility for PURPAN’s students represents a field of excellence in the School’s teaching philosophy. On average, 350 students perform an internship or university-based semester abroad every year.

Language immersion and introduction to the agricultural realities abroad.

Every student carries out a three-month internship in an English-speaking country (United Kingdom and Northern Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), whether at a university, farm, research laboratory or company.

Internships are supervised by tutors and, in certain cases, supported through grants awarded by the French Ministry for Agriculture and Food. There are two main objectives:

  • Significantly improve students’ English skills
  • Deepen students’ insight into the realities facing foreign agricultural industries

A report produced in English will describe the farm in its context, while specifying the strengths and weaknesses.

Fourth-year students at PURPAN have the option of spending a semester studying at a foreign university.

The study periods offered by PURPAN are the ideal way to discover a different teaching approach, culture, language environment and society. Students may deepen or hone their knowledge or expertise in a specific field.

The study periods depend on PURPAN’s networked partnership agreements (France Agro³) or bilateral agreements (particularly partnership agreements in the USA and Canada) with over 80 universities in 40 different countries.

Four out of five students decide to spend a semester abroad and choose from a range of courses allowing these future engineers to improve their knowledge in subject areas complementing those taught by PURPAN.

Examples of our partnerships: Wageningen in the Netherlands, Cordoba in Spain, Laval in Quebec, Kansas, Purdue, Urbana-Champaign and Florida in the USA, Buenos Aires in Argentina and São Paulo in Brazil.

Students can benefit from one of the partnerships established with the School to join a long-term development programme.

Special focus has been given to target zones and countries (Latin America, West Africa, India-Nepal, Southeast Asia and so on), and lecturers are on hand to provide close support and guidance.

These schemes are the perfect opportunity to engage with an international project promoting solidarity in the most impoverished countries, while developing project management skills during the fourth year.

A sense of service and contribution towards long-term progress are the keywords. These placements are managed in liaison with HODACE, a student NGO that works with the School in providing financial aid to students who sign up to this particular scheme (25 to 30 students on average).

Every year, 10 students on average decide to pursue a programme that symbolises excellence in academic prowess.

Upon returning from their fourth-year study visit, some PURPAN students can continue down this particular route by studying for both an engineering degree from PURPAN and a Specialised Master’s from a partner university. Students benefit from a double tutorial system and need to fulfil the requirements of the partner university’s diplomas.

Nine agreements have been specifically established with such academic institutions as Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Purdue University, Kansas State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the USA, ESALQ and PUCPR in Brazil, PUC in Chile, Tecnológico de Monterrey – ITESM in Mexico and NMBU in Norway.

These schemes clearly open the doors to an international career. Every year, 10 students on average decide to embark on a dual diploma programme

Second-year internship

Language immersion and introduction to the agricultural realities abroad.

Every student carries out a three-month internship in an English-speaking country (United Kingdom and Northern Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), whether at a university, farm, research laboratory or company.

Internships are supervised by tutors and, in certain cases, supported through grants awarded by the French Ministry for Agriculture and Food. There are two main objectives:

  • Significantly improve students’ English skills
  • Deepen students’ insight into the realities facing foreign agricultural industries

A report produced in English will describe the farm in its context, while specifying the strengths and weaknesses.

Academic semester abroad

Fourth-year students at PURPAN have the option of spending a semester studying at a foreign university.

The study periods offered by PURPAN are the ideal way to discover a different teaching approach, culture, language environment and society. Students may deepen or hone their knowledge or expertise in a specific field.

The study periods depend on PURPAN’s networked partnership agreements (France Agro³) or bilateral agreements (particularly partnership agreements in the USA and Canada) with over 80 universities in 40 different countries.

Four out of five students decide to spend a semester abroad and choose from a range of courses allowing these future engineers to improve their knowledge in subject areas complementing those taught by PURPAN.

Examples of our partnerships: Wageningen in the Netherlands, Cordoba in Spain, Laval in Quebec, Kansas, Purdue, Urbana-Champaign and Florida in the USA, Buenos Aires in Argentina and São Paulo in Brazil.

Semester in an NGO

Students can benefit from one of the partnerships established with the School to join a long-term development programme.

Special focus has been given to target zones and countries (Latin America, West Africa, India-Nepal, Southeast Asia and so on), and lecturers are on hand to provide close support and guidance.

These schemes are the perfect opportunity to engage with an international project promoting solidarity in the most impoverished countries, while developing project management skills during the fourth year.

A sense of service and contribution towards long-term progress are the keywords. These placements are managed in liaison with HODACE, a student NGO that works with the School in providing financial aid to students who sign up to this particular scheme (25 to 30 students on average).

Dual Degree

Every year, 10 students on average decide to pursue a programme that symbolises excellence in academic prowess.

Upon returning from their fourth-year study visit, some PURPAN students can continue down this particular route by studying for both an engineering degree from PURPAN and a Specialised Master’s from a partner university. Students benefit from a double tutorial system and need to fulfil the requirements of the partner university’s diplomas.

Nine agreements have been specifically established with such academic institutions as Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Purdue University, Kansas State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the USA, ESALQ and PUCPR in Brazil, PUC in Chile, Tecnológico de Monterrey – ITESM in Mexico and NMBU in Norway.

These schemes clearly open the doors to an international career. Every year, 10 students on average decide to embark on a dual diploma programme

International agreements
International agreements

PURPAN's network of international partners has been built upon longstanding relationships with certain universities and higher education institutions as part of bilateral cooperation agreements.

International exposure
International exposure

When it comes to preparing future engineers for an increasingly globalised workplace and cluing them into the agricultural, economic and cultural realities surrounding them, PURPAN firmly believes in maximising their exposure to the international arena.

Erasmus +
Erasmus +

When it comes to preparing future engineers for an increasingly globalised workplace and cluing them into the agricultural, economic and cultural realities surrounding them, PURPAN firmly believes in maximising their exposure to the international arena.

International students
International students

At PURPAN, we host students for one semester, one year or even more.