Students' projects
Students’ projects are an integral part of ENSM’s educational project, which emphasises open-mindedness, multi-skilling, teamwork, a sense of responsibility and solidarity. These are all values that the Academy encourages and supports.
At ENSM, associations support students’ sporting, cultural, humanitarian and scientific commitments.
The Burals
The Burals are ENSM’s student unions offices, with around twenty other associations connected to them. On each ENSM campus, the Bural is made up of a president called “Grand mât,” a general secretary or “Mât de misaine,” and a treasurer. The Bural animates student life and perpetuates the traditions of the Merchant Navy, including welcoming Pilots (first-year students) and their christening in the presence of families, teachers, and alumni.
ENSM Chater for Festive Events
Students and ENSM’s Managing Director have signed the Charter for festive events.
This document, approved by ENSM’s Board of Directors, has been incorporated into the school’s Rules of Procedure, replacing the previous charter. It sets out the responsibilities of the various parties involved in organising events and aims to make organisers more accountable.
In this context, ENSM is demonstrating its firm commitment to the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, but not only that, since all forms of discrimination are targeted and the ecological awareness of students is mentioned. With this document, ENSM is betting that students will foster change.
Students' Representation
Delegates / roles
Student representatives on the Board of Directors and the Board of Studies are elected by and from among the class delegates.
A class delegate may be part of the local development committee.
The role of class delegate is broader than managing the life of the class:
- Taking part in the local school life committee for each campus;
- Taking part in working groups;
- Assisting a student called before a disciplinary board;
- Acting as class spokesperson;
- Ensuring communication between the students in the class and the campus management via the Studies and Training Office (BEF).
Informal elections are organised in October by the deputy site director in charge of education at each campus.
The list of class representatives for the four campuses is published in the “School Life” section.
ENSM students are represented in various bodies, by election or appointment.
Board of Directors
Broadly speaking, the Board “sets the general directions of the Academy” (internal organisations, COP, Rules of Procedure, teaching policy, tuition and continuing education fees, student recruitment terms and conditions, research policy, budget…). It is the only decision-making body of the Academy, the others can only issue opinions.
Academic Council (Conseil des études – CE)
The AC is consulted on:
- The general orientation of initial and continuing education;
- Applications for accreditation to award national diplomas and on the evaluation of teachings;
- Measures meant to promote cultural, sports, social, or associative activities offered to users;
- Social action in favour of users, health policy, disability management, and measures to improve the working conditions for users.
Election of student and teacher representatives at ENSM Academic Council.
Nine teacher representatives and nine student representatives are elected to the AC:
Engineering Course, Yrs 1 to 3
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative in the 1st year
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative in the 2nd year
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative in the 3rd year
Engineering Courses, Yrs 4 and 5
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative
Deck Officer Courses
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative for OCQP, Captain 3000, and Captain
Engine Officer Courses
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative for chief engineer training
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative for OOW-Engine/Chief Engineer <8000 kW, Chief Engineer <3000 kW, and Chief Engineer <8000 kW courses
International OOW – Deck Courses
1 teacher representative and 1 student representative.
National Council for Higher Education and Research (conseil national de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche – CNESER)
The National Council for Higher Education and Research (CNESER) represents scientific, cultural, and professional institutions (E.P.S.C.P.). The Council oversees the major national interests, particularly educational, cultural, scientific, economic, and social, whose representatives are appointed by joint order of the minister in charge of Research.
In order to appoint the representatives of the elected members of the students’ section, the CNESER organises an indirect election for which the Academy must appoint 2 electors from among the elected members of its councils, who will vote to appoint the elected members.
Au Rad'Lo
Au Rad’Lô is a student association created in 2016 by about ten 3rd-year students in Marseille, starting from the observation that they were trained to abandon ship, with the Personal Survival Technique and the Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, but not to survive. They therefore spent 5 days surviving onboard a raft, accompanied by a Marine Firefighter from the BMPB (Marseille Marine Fire Brigade). Under the supervision of doctors, they were able to study the effects of lack of food and water, of promiscuity, but also the raft itself.
With a new team, a second experience was organised in 2022. 22 people, including 4 non-seafarers and 2 Marine Firefighters, boarded in a ship and a raft, moored to a buoy off the Frioul. The 5 days were conclusive. Numerous studies were conducted under the supervision of doctors and psychologists. The castaways were also able to compare survival conditions between the raft and the ship.
For 2024, the students are thinking even bigger: about forty people will board on a 50-person raft, for 2 to 5 days drifting off Marseille. Starting out on the basis of a abandoned passenger ship, to recreate a more multi-skilled crew, there will be more than twenty non-seafarers on board, complete newcomers to the field of seamanship and survival. There will also be 8 members of Au Rad’Lô, 2 doctors and 2 firemen. This new experience is a major challenge, requiring a great deal of organisation to ensure everyone’s safety.
The ENSM reveals the first title of its album of sea chanteys !
A project “Made in ENSM”
ENSM and its Foundation, as part of the “Les Chœurs de l’Hydro” project, are pleased to announce the first track on the album of sea songs, the song “Wellerman”, performed by ENSM students. First published in a book of folk songs in 1973, the song was covered by singer Nathan Evans in 2021 and went viral on social networks. The members of the choir at the Le Havre site, accompanied by their English teacher and musician Laurent Ambroggiani, decided to reappropriate the song, combining education and music. Voices, instruments, audio mixes, the project is ‘Made in ENSM’.
Many thanks!
A big thank you to all the students, former students, staff and teachers who took part in this project, from near and far, in front of the microphone or behind the cameras. The work done to launch this first track will inspire future recordings. Congratulations to all!
“This adventure around the Wellerman piece was an opportunity to meet the students in a different context from the courses, to accompany them musically and to give them the benefit of my recording and mixing skills.”
Laurent Ambroggiani, ENSM lecturer and musician
Marine choirs at ENSM
The choirs at ENSM’s 4 sites – Le Havre, Marseille, Saint-Malo and Nantes – carry on a tradition that goes back more than 450 years. Merchant Navy Officer cadets have been singing these sea songs during their schooling for generations. They embody both the collective effort and the soul of the people of the sea.
“I see singing as an integral part of maritime culture. It’s a way of bringing the students together, like a crew, despite their different ages and backgrounds”.
Noé, member of the Nantes choir
To support the Foundation
In order to continue this wonderful adventure, ENSM is launching a campaign to collect donations to finance the ‘Les Chœurs de l’Hydro’ project. The funds will be donated to the ENSM Foundation and will provide financial support for the choirs’ recordings at each site.
“The first result of this project is truly incredible! The Hydros are capable of anything! I’d like to encourage this cross-site project, which is a real school success story. I invite you to help us fund it through the ENSM Foundation, so that our students can develop their talent in the spirit of a crew in a recording studio. Heave ho !”
François Lambert, Managing Director of ENSM