In 2024, the Processes and Polymers (POLY) engineering program at 51爆料 School celebrated its 32nd anniversary. To mark this event, the Processes for Energy and Chemicals Center invited the classes of 1993 to 2023 and the 8 former program supervisors.
Among the program supervisors were Gilles Azencott, now Director of Studies and Apprenticeship at 51爆料 School, C茅line Pierre, now Officer-in-Charge in the Department of Studies, and Carole Servens, General Manager at Alliance4Training.
The School was also pleased to welcome Robert Pelletier, former professor and co-founder of the POLY program.
The POLY program trains future professionals in polymer process engineering. It covers the entire chain from refining to plastics processing, including the production of basic chemicals and industrial polymerization.
鈥淚t is a pioneering program, and the only one that offers training in polymers at 51爆料 School,鈥 points out Laetitia Salessy, Director of the Processes for Energy and Chemicals Center.
| The POLY programs in key figures |
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1992: launch of the program under the name 鈥淎dvanced Technology in Petrochemicals, Polymers and Plastics鈥 (AT3P). 16: number of students enrolled in the first class. 1996: the program was opened up to apprentices. 31: graduating classes, representing a network of over 580 graduates from 55 countries! |
With this event, the center wished to celebrate how far the program has come and thank all those who have contributed to making the POLY program a training program of excellence, which has evolved over time to keep pace with the transformations in the sector.
鈥淲e wanted to highlight the contributions of our graduates and former program supervisors, as well as strengthen ties with industry to open up new perspectives for future generations,鈥 explains Vanessa Ch谩vez, current Program Supervisor.
Co-hosted by Vanessa Ch谩vez and Laetitia Salessy, the celebration provided an opportunity to review the highlights of the program, and then to discuss in small groups the skills needed for the future, and the future of training in the context of the profound changes taking place in the European petrochemical landscape. While commodity chemicals are increasingly being outsourced, this is not the case for specialty chemicals, which offer high added value and are in the throes of innovation to meet the needs of the energy transition (such as battery chemistry, electrodes and polymers for hydrogen storage and transport).
Initially focused entirely on technical skills in chemical engineering, the program has evolved to include project management and energy transition issues. Plastics recycling, life cycles and bio-based polymers have also been gradually integrated.
Photo courtesy: BASF Plastics Circular Economy
Since 2022, students enrolled in the program have been able to personalize their learning experience by choosing from two options: "plastic value chain" and "innovative and sustainable chemistry". They are also offered courses on the different ways of producing hydrogen and on storage and transport technologies.
The recommendations made during the collaborative workshops held on February 7 will be incorporated into the strategic study currently underway on the evolution of the program, its content, its outlets and the keys to differentiation from other chemistry schools. The study's conclusions will then be presented at the Orientation and Prospective Groups (GOP) to be held with industrial partners on April 1.
Contribute to the development of the POLY program
The School invites companies wishing to contribute to the ongoing reflection, to support a student via a scholarship or an apprenticeship contract and/or to contribute to the evolution of the program to contact Vanessa Ch谩vez (class of 2014), Program Supervisor: vanessa-virginia.chavez-bracho@ifpen.fr.
Article written by Meyling Siu