Centrale Nantes is proud to have received the Special Jury Prize in the Ingénieuses 2026 competition

Awards ceremony

Centrale Nantes was nominated in the engineering schools category. Its application had been selected from among 62 projects submitted by 52 engineering schools and campuses.

The winners were announced at the Ingénieuses 2026 awards ceremony, which took place on 19 May 2026 in Paris. Marta Herrera, a teacher in the CLES department and equality, diversity and inclusion officer at Centrale Nantes, was present to receive the Jury’s Special Prize.

An issue that remains relevant today

Beyond the award itself, the ceremony also highlighted an important fact: although women now make up half the population, they remain under-represented in science courses and careers. Between stereotypes, self-censorship and a lack of representation, barriers still exist.

However, discussions with the other schools present also revealed a collective determination to bring about change. This momentum is also gaining traction at Centrale Nantes thanks to the commitment of the student and alumni community, through initiatives such as the Centr’elles association, the Égal’IT Club, hosting the Industri’elles event, promoting women’s career paths, and awareness-raising activities carried out throughout the year.

A look back at the ‘Shaping the future of engineering for women’ project

Our project, ‘Shaping the future of engineering for women’, is structured around three stages: before, during and after.

Awareness-raising initiatives ahead of Centrale Nantes (or any other course)

This year at Centrale Nantes, in terms of raising awareness about increasing the number of women, was marked by two major events:
We hosted the Industri’elles event, during which 200 highschool girls spent two days working on industrial projects.

We also have the Egal’IT student club at the school, which visits secondary schools to promote gender diversity. The club introduces pupils to the engineering profession and the great women scientists of history, whilst addressing gender stereotypes and prejudices in the scientific community. Since June 2025, 600 pupils have been reached.

Awareness-raising initiatives during studies at Centrale Nantes

Our institution works to promote diversity and is committed to fostering a respectful, open and inclusive environment where every member of the community can thrive and contribute fully to life at the school.

Every year at the start of the academic year, the school runs awareness-raising initiatives on gender-based and sexual violence (such as an interactive theatre performance).

For the past three years, Centrale Nantes has dedicated the month of March to celebrating diversity in all its forms by offering its staff and students a rich and varied programme of events.

The student association Centr’elles works to combat sexism, discrimination and gender-based and sexual violence within the school and the engineering sector. It aims to raise awareness among the student community and highlight such violence and discrimination. The club provides a space for listening, discussion and mutual support open to everyone, and also encourages girls to pursue scientific studies whilst promoting a culture of equality, respect and inclusion.

Initiatives following studies at Centrale Nantes

Centrale Nantes Alumni (CNA) aims to bring together alumni, students and staff at Centrale Nantes to foster success for all.
Several initiatives to increase the number of women in Centrale Nantes Alumni have been implemented:

• Signing of the GEF (Grandes Ecoles au Féminin) charter with three commitments: gender diversity in the association’s governance, raising awareness among graduates about gender equality, and ensuring no panel includes fewer than one woman among the experts.
• Gender diversity on the Board of Directors
• Gender diversity among class representatives and class mentors

At Centrale Nantes, we are committed to inspiring vocations and attracting more young women to science and engineering careers.

We need you: dream big, set no limits for yourselves, and go for it.

Marta Herrera, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion officer at Centrale Nantes

Ingénieuses competition

Every year, the Ingénieuses competition highlights initiatives and career paths that promote gender diversity in science and engineering professions. The Ingénieuses competition is an initiative of the CDEFI (Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools).

In 2026, nearly 220 applications were received. The evaluation of the projects and career paths took place in two stages. Twenty-five pupils from the Lycée Jean Rostand in Villepinte came together to form the school pupils’ jury, which examined the projects submitted by the engineering schools and selected the winner of the 2026 school pupils’ prize. All the applications were then reviewed by our main jury of partners and supporters.

Photo copyright : CDEFI