On 30 January 2015, Sciences Po and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement to strengthen and develop their cooperation in areas of common interest such as research, education and vocational training.
This agreement formalises and accelerates the cooperation measures already initiated several years ago and managed at the EIB by the EIB Institute, which is responsible for relations with universities and research centres. For the last two years, the European Investment Bank has participated in Sciences Po's "Forum Entreprises" recruitment and information event. EIB experts regularly give lectures at Sciences Po as part of the teaching provided by the International Business School, the School of Law and the Economics Department.
Under this five-year agreement, existing synergies will be exploited and further developed in a more ambitious and systematic approach. In the area of research, particularly in relation to economics, the two institutions will work together to support work on topics of common interest, such as the "social and solidarity economy", urban issues, climate change, energy, security and innovation, and on emerging issues, such as big data, smart cities and crowdfunding.
In the field of education, Sciences Po will be able to call more regularly on experts among EIB staff to give lectures as part of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Conversely, Sciences Po’s teaching staff and researchers will be able to make contributions on specific themes at the EIB, e.g. to meet professional training needs.
Under the EIB's Graduate Recruitment and Development (GRAD) Programme, Sciences Po will enjoy easier access to traineeship and employment offers. Moreover, the EIB may submit and supervise students’ collective projects in line with its requirements, thus enhancing the future integration of students in the labour market. Two projects are already being developed on climate change mitigation and the sensitivity of investments to armed conflict.
Finally, Sciences Po and the EIB can work together to organise conferences and other events and also to plan joint lifelong training measures.
“We are delighted that Sciences Po is the EIB's first university partner in France. This partnership covering Sciences Po's different fields of activity will help to mobilise both academic departments and research centres on issues of common interest, while enhancing our graduates' employability and our international ranking,” said Sciences Po Director Frédéric Mion.
At the signing ceremony, EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive stated, “The EIB is the bank of Europeans, particularly of young people and future graduates. Education and support for research are a national and European priority, to which we dedicated EUR 2.7bn in 2014. Such enhanced cooperation with Sciences Po is above all a winning partnership based on the sharing and transfer of knowledge, expertise and experience."