Center for Diversity and Inclusion

A strong initiative in favor of diversity

CentraleSupélec strives for a more inclusive, open, and equitable school. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion shares this ambition: to make social, gender, and cultural diversity an asset for science and engineering.

Created in a context where equal opportunities remain a major issue, in terms of equal opportunities, the Center supports underrepresented young talents – young girls, high school students from modest backgrounds, students living far from educational centers or in rural areas – to enable them to plan for scientific studies, and to succeed there.

Our Ambition
Empowering every talent to succeed, regardless of their background or origin.

Our Mission
Making diversity a lever for academic excellence, innovation and social transformation.

A concrete impact

Because inequalities, stereotypes, and self-censorship still hinder access to scientific studies, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion takes action at every stage of the process, with a comprehensive and targeted approach.

From the 3^e from middle school to the final year of the engineering cycle (Bac+5), each young person supported benefits from awareness-raising and support programs through various actions.

For middle and high school students: awakening vocations

• Summer Camp
  Every summer, 150 students, 50% of whom are girls and students from low-income backgrounds, experience an immersive week focused on science and innovation on campus. The goal is to spark curiosity, break down mental barriers, and explore scientific studies.
  Discover the summer camp
   
• High School Territory Project
  In conjunction with partner high schools, a three-stage course:
  → Meetings with engineering students to discover the engineering course;
  → Visits of the campus and the exhibition “A World of Math”;
  → Trades with alumni during orientation week.
  In the first and final years, students can benefit from a regular tutoring.
   
• Scientific internships for second year students
  By opening the doors of its laboratories, CentraleSupélec allows high school students, mainly from our partner high schools of the Cordées de la réussite, to experience an initial immersion in scientific and technological research.
   
• Tours and exhibitions for middle school students
  In partnership with businesses and associations, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion organizes thematic tours, interactive exhibits and workshops., to give a lively and accessible image of science, before choosing your career path.
   
• Testimonies on science and engineering studies
  In partnership with Brut, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion gives its students a voice to deconstruct preconceived notions about science and engineering studies. Through a series of short, accessible testimonials, these videos highlight the diversity of backgrounds, profiles, and experiences.

For students in preparatory classes: removing the obstacles

• Ambition Grande École Program
  Co-developed with ENS Paris-Saclay and École des Ponts, this program is aimed at scholarship holders and young women from local CPGE (primary and secondary schools) in the region. It includes:
  → Methodological webinars to optimize work and preparation for competitive exams;
  → Tutoring and mentoring by engineering students from the school;
  → Campus visits to create benchmarks and strengthen motivation;
  → The allocation of living grants and the reimbursement of competition fees;
   
• Support for the oral exams of the Centrale-Supélec competition
  All scholarship students in grades 4 to 7 taking the CentraleSupélec oral exams can benefit from free accommodation on campus (subject to availability), regardless of their geographical origin.

For the school's students: promoting inclusion

• Living grants
  Thanks to the Foundation, more than €200 in scholarships are allocated each year: For example, all CROUS scholarship holders, levels 000 to 1, receive a "living grant" of €7 in the first year and €2 in the second year.
   
• Support for integration
  The Center for Diversity and Inclusion also funds key moments in student life, such as the integration weekend, to ensure everyone has the best possible start to campus life.