We are delighted that you have chosen to join us at ENS de Lyon. Every new academic year is an important moment for our École, both for those coming back after the summer break and for those who are starting out on “their first year” at the École. There is no doubt that the 2020-2021 academic year will be even more extraordinary. One thing for sure is that we are all looking forward to welcoming you at ENS de Lyon and I would like to wish you all the best for this new year, however unusual it may be.
At the time of writing, the exact conditions of the start of the school year and the first semester of teaching have not been decided upon. It is likely that some of the various on-boarding and group information meetings, and even some teaching activities, will not be able to take place in per- son. Even on campus, we will probably still have to respect social distancing and safety measures. Our teaching teams as well as our administrative services will do everything possible to welcome you to ENS de Lyon and make you feel at home as quickly as possible, so that you can study, teach, work, and live here, in the best conditions. I hope that by meeting new people and making new discoveries on campus, you will grow to appreciate and love the unique spirit of ENS de Lyon and will share our passion for knowledge as well as our culture of curiosity and excellence.
ENS de Lyon is the heritage of Écoles de Fontenay and Saint-Cloud, founded at the end of the 19th century, at the time of the Jules Ferry laws which established free, secular and compulsory education in France. Initially, the School in Lyon was dedicated to the exact and experimental sciences and in 2017, ENS de Lyon celebrated its 30th anniversary in our city.
You have chosen to come to the École normale supérieure de Lyon and we are happy to welcome you. Each new academic year is a great moment for our School, for those who meet up again after the summer break and even more so for those who are starting their first academic year at ENS de Lyon. This year, for the second year in a row, the beginning of the school year may not take place as usual. However, and despite what- ever health measures we must adopt, I would like to offer my best wishes for this new school year at ENS de Lyon, however peculiar it may be due to the health crisis, and I wish to extend the warmest welcome to you all.
As I am writing, the teams at ENS de Lyon are preparing the start of the school year based on several scenarios, everything will be ready for face-to-face classes, but it is possible, however, that some of the onboarding and information meetings, or even teaching activities will take place with reduced numbers, or perhaps in hybrid mode, mixing face-to-face classes and distance learning. Everything will be done by the teaching teams and administrative departments so that the School offers you the best welcome and that you feel at home as quickly as possible, to study, teach, work, and even live here in Lyon, in the best conditions. As you meet everyone and discover the School, we hope you will learn to share and love the spirit that drives us, as well as our passion for expertise, curiosity and excellence. I hope that the health context will be such that you can discover the campus, the abundant activities of its training departments, research laboratories, as well as the services and asso- ciations that the School provides. All this is the fruit of a history of which we can all be proud of, which anchors us in the French tradition of the Écoles normales supérieures, puts Lyon on the map and invites us to explore the ever-changing universe of knowledge and its challenges.
Today, ENS de Lyon is still recognized among the 5 most successful higher education and research institutions in France*, and among the 10 best research small universities in the world**. We are proud of this recognition, which corresponds to our vision of a resolutely international knowl- edge-based society, in touch with the challenges of contemporary societies. Our campus is also international, with no fewer than 70 nationali- ties represented.
Before you get to know the School, you will surely need help and guidance to help you find your way around campus and understand how the School works, and even more so, if part of the school year takes place remotely. This guide is therefore here to provide you with all the information and useful contacts you need. Welcome to ENS de Lyon!
Jean-François Pinton
President of ENS de Lyon
*QS World University Rankings 2021
**THE Ranking 2020