As a partner of the Foundation since 2016, Arkema reinforces its commitment to developing the interest of middle and high school students in science, technology, and digital engineering by introducing them to related careers. Arkema is also a member of the Foundation's board of directors.
Education and science, integration and inclusion are major issues for Arkema, which has been involved with Fondation CGénial for many years. In September 2023, Arkema will join the circle of "Génialissimes" patrons of the Foundation, multiplying the number of classroom visits and presentations by its employees and supporting new programs such as gender workshops to promote the feminization of scientific careers.
"As a leader in Specialty Materials, it's essential that we support pedagogical and educational initiatives that give young people a taste for science. We share the Foundation's mission to promote science and showcase industrial careers to encourage the professions of tomorrow. In line with the initiatives of recent years, it seemed natural for us to invest even more by becoming a major sponsor, thus reinforcing, and extending the impact of our actions alongside Fondation CGénial", asserts Thierry Parmentier, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communication.
"Arkema has become a major partner of Fondation CGénial by involving its employees in our activities and opening its sites throughout France. We're delighted to have taken this next step, which will allow us to increase our impact." Hélène Chahine, General Delegate of Fondation CGénial
Arkema participates in the association's four main initiatives
Ingénieurs et techniciens dans les classes (Engineers and technicians in the classroom)
Since its creation in 2006, the Foundation has enabled more than 80,000 middle and high school students to benefit from a classroom intervention. Since 2015, nearly 9,000 students have discovered Arkema's professions by meeting the Group's volunteer employees who share their career paths and daily lives.
Professeurs en entreprise (Teachers in the workplace)
Secondary school teachers visit sites and R&D centers to learn about jobs, career opportunities, new technologies and working methods, and to share real-world examples with their students. To date, nearly 500 teachers and educational leaders have visited 18 of the Group's sites in France.
"I didn't expect such a high quality visit. I appreciated everything, including the quality of the discussions, the people I met, the plant, the links I'll be able to use in the classroom, the concrete applications to my subject and the fact that the role of women in this branch of industry was highlighted", commented a teacher visiting the Genay site.
Le concours CGénial (CGénial competition)
Each year, a national competition is organized for middle and high school students to present a project related to science and engineering disciplines. In 2023, nearly 7,500 middle and high school students submitted more than 360 projects.
Yes We Code!
A program dedicated to raising awareness of the digital sciences, enables young people aged 10 to 17 to design digital projects and devices, such as the one set up at Arkema's Saint-Auban site to support a class from the nearby Maison Familiale Rurale.