ENSTA Bretagne : Équipe de recherche en Sciences Humaines et Sociales (SHS) - Laboratoire Formation et Apprentissage Professionnels

Research in Human and Social Sciences: FoAp scientific project

Multi-supervisory and inter-regional, FoAP (Training and Professional Learning) is the only laboratory to be dedicated to adult training and vocational training in France. It oversees a network of researchers (ENSTA Bretagne, AgroSup Dijon, CNAM Paris) on training questions in the broad sense, including initial vocational training, higher education, lifelong learning, active apprenticeships and career paths.

ENSTA Bretagne’s academic staff members working in this laboratory have backgrounds in education science, sociology and management science. Within the FPI (Formation et professionnalisation des ingénieurs) team, they focus on how engineering careers and education systems are evolving.



Within the engineering school context, they develop projects that combine scientific input from academic fields with knowledge of professional working environments.

Exploring engineering training and careers

Studies carried out at the lab aim to explore the relationship between social and technical spheres through the lenses of identity, knowledge bases, organization patterns and the learning process.  They integrate sociocultural dynamics from micro level (an individual dealing with a technical system) to macro level (the global evolution of engineering education systems).

Areas of expertise

•    Analysis of engineering school and higher education curricula

•    Identity-building and career paths for engineers

•    Innovative processes and training engineers in responsible innovation

•    Socio-technical approaches to engineering

Team highlights

  1. Team created in 2002
  2. Team associated with the CRF in 2015
  3. The Research Center on Professional Training and Adult Learning was created on January 1, 2019.
  • Completed projects :
    • Craken (managerial activity modeling to develop a serious game, 2011–2014),
    • A study of the career paths of North African engineers trained in France, PHC Tassili program, 2011–2014,
    • Innov’Ing 2020 (innovation training for future engineers: new careers, new training programs, ANR, 2014–2016)
    • A-STEP 2030 (ERASMUS+): Attracting diverSe Talent to the Engineering Professions of 2030
    • RIIME (PHC): engineering education in the Maghreb (North Africa) in light of the environmental challenges
  • Ongoing projects : Holi-D Blue and Innovation in the armed forces (Travid and ID2I projects)
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