As every year, around forty first-year students at Mines Nancy have chosen to dedicate their academic project to the Cordées de la réussite, a French national programme promoting equal opportunity in higher education. During the 2026-2027 school year, they are supporting ten secondary schools in the Grand Est region, with two aims: giving middle and high school pupils a taste for higher education, and helping them improve their academic results.
A student-led project promoting equal opportunity
The Cordées de la réussite (“Roped Parties for Success”) are a French government-backed scheme that partners higher education institutions with secondary schools. The programme tackles self-censorship and broadens the horizons of young people who do not always dare to consider long-term studies.
Mines Nancy engineering students design and run a wide range of activities for the pupils:
- one-to-one tutoring and homework support
- cultural outings and trips
- team-building activities
- thematic workshops, such as the Climate Fresk (Fresque du Climat)
- discussions about academic pathways and careers
The ARTEM Cordée: the largest in the Nancy-Metz education authority
Mines Nancy leads the ARTEM Cordée, the largest Cordée de la réussite in the Nancy-Metz academic region (Académie de Nancy-Metz). The school works closely with the two other members of the ARTEM Alliance, ICN Business School and the Nancy School of Art and Design (ENSAD Nancy). This partnership pools the skills and resources of all three institutions for the benefit of the pupils involved.
Partner schools of the ARTEM Cordée in 2026-2027
This year’s activities will benefit middle and high school pupils living in priority urban neighbourhoods (quartiers prioritaires de la politique de la ville) and attending the following schools:
- Collège Jean Lamour – Nancy
- Collège Niki de Saint Phalle – Nancy
- Collège Alfred Mézières – Nancy
- Collège Jean de la Fontaine – Laxou
- Four middle schools in the Forbach area (Moselle):
- Collège Pierre Adt – Forbach
- Collège Robert Schuman – Behren-lès-Forbach
- Collège Louis Armand – Petite-Rosselle
- Collège Nicolas Untersteller – Stiring-Wendel
- Lycée Georges de la Tour – Nancy
- Lycée Cyfflé – Nancy
Handover between student cohorts and official launch
The handover between this year’s first-year engineering students and the second-year students who ran the project last year took place during a memorable evening. The previous team shared feedback, good practice and key points to watch, so that the new cohort could get off to the best possible start.
To mark the official launch of the ARTEM Cordée, the first steering committee meeting was held on 13 October 2026 at Mines Nancy. It brought together the coordinators from the partner schools, the Cordées coordinators from Mines Nancy, ICN Business School and ENSAD Nancy, and representatives of the main funders: the DREETS (Regional Directorate for Economy, Employment, Labour and Solidarity – Urban Policy) and the Rectorate of the Nancy-Metz education authority. The meeting set out the year’s objectives, clarified the calendar of activities and laid the foundations for regular monitoring. It also helped build connections between partner schools, which may go on to organise joint events.
What’s next?
The first activities with pupils began in October 2026, despite some disruption caused by blockades at several high schools and at Mines Nancy. They will continue throughout the school year, with a mid-year review in January 2027 and a final evaluation in June 2027.
Driven by their ideals and determination, these students are ready to share their skills and experience with younger generations: a promising year lies ahead!
Save the date
- Thursday 14 January 2027 – A landmark event: 100 middle school pupils from the Forbach area will be welcomed on the ARTEM campus in Nancy. They will visit the three schools of the ARTEM Alliance and take part in thematic workshops designed by Mines Nancy students.
- Thursday 4 February 2027 – First ARTEM Cordée Forum: as part of the national Cordées de la réussite week, the ARTEM campus will host the first edition of the ARTEM Cordée Forum, bringing together the three higher education institutions and the ten partner schools. On the programme: guidance on study options, testimonials from second-year students involved in the Cordée, and stands from partner companies.
Key facts :
What are the Cordées de la réussite?
A French national equal opportunity programme that pairs higher education institutions with secondary schools, especially in priority neighbourhoods, to encourage pupils to pursue higher education.
How many Mines Nancy students are involved?
Around 40 first-year engineering students, as part of their academic project.
How many schools does the ARTEM Cordée support?
Ten secondary schools in Nancy, Laxou and the Forbach area (eight middle schools and two high schools).
Who leads the ARTEM Cordée?
Mines Nancy, in partnership with ICN Business School and ENSAD Nancy, the other members of the ARTEM Alliance.
About Mines Nancy
Mines Nancy is a French graduate school of engineering (grande école) and part of the University of Lorraine, with more than 850 students from over 30 countries. Its areas of expertise include materials, energy, industrial engineering and applied mathematics, computer science, geosciences and civil engineering, and design engineering. Since the early 2000s, through the ARTEM Alliance, Mines Nancy has pioneered cross-disciplinary education by training engineers, managers, artists and designers together.
