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.
In the year 2000, the humanities and social sciences made their first appearance on the Descartes site, and we will be celebrating this event this year. Bringing together the sciences and humanities in 2010, ENS de Lyon also played a significant role in the development of the university of Lyon Saint-Étienne. Since 2011, we have added the French Institute of Education to our structures, giving us unique expertise in the teaching profession, notably in higher education. Today, ENS de Lyon is ranked amongst the top 5 French Higher Education facilities (QS Ranking 2020) and research centers, as well as being classified as one of the 10 best small universities in the world (Times Higher Education ranking 2019). We are proud of this recognition that mirrors our vision of creating an international society of knowledge. You will soon discover that our campus is also international, with no fewer than 70 nationalities represented.
To get to know our École, you will need a helping hand and a few guidelines to find your feet on campus and understand how the École works, especially if part of the academic year is taught remotely.
We have therefore written this guide to give you a comprehensive manual full of useful contacts and information. We are happy to welcome you on board at ENS de Lyon.
All the best for the new academic year!
Jean-François Pinton
President of ENS de Lyon