Training digital engineers committed to the environmental transition

" When I began my career as a teacher-researcher at Télécom SudParis in 2008, the question of the ecological impact of digital technology was rarely raised," recalls Emmanuel Monfrini, now the school's Director of Training. " To talk about the energy transition in our environment was even to be considered a 'fanatical ecologist' whose ideas could jeopardize the competitiveness of French companies. The shift took place quite abruptly, starting in the mid-2010s. The digital industry, which had been spared until then, was now widely singled out for criticism, particularly for its energy consumption.

These are legitimate criticisms, but they need to be refined. " Currently, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, digital technology does not represent a catastrophe," observes Emmanuel Monfrini. " But given the growth of the industry, it could soon become one. So there's still time to act, to avoid a dead end. "

Bringing together students, teachers and partners around the environmental transition

Télécom SudParis understands this and is keen to contribute to this collective effort. In September 2022, the school launched the Digital Engineering & Environmental Transition Chair for Responsible Management and Accelerated Energy Transformation (INTEGRATE). " Our idea is to bring together students who want to get involved in these subjects, teachers who have knowledge that they are continually developing, and organizations that need to evolve, for ethical, economic and regulatory reasons ", explains Emmanuel Monfrini, who heads up the chair. INTEGRATE's supporters include companies such as Michelin, Sopra Steria and LOG, as well as public bodies such as the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile, the Fondation Mines-Télécom and the Banque des territoires de la Caisse des Dépôts, which recently joined the list of partners.

The aim of the Chair is to train students at the engineering school in these issues, and to give them the keys they need to become drivers of the environmental transition right from the start of their careers. This ambition is in line with the growing demand from engineering students. " Today, when we ask students when they start at Télécom SudParis, we find that a large majority consider ecological impact to be an essential issue," notes Emmanuel Monfrini. " However, when it comes to choosing their first employer, some prefer the best salary. It's up to schools to show them other perspectives, and companies to prove that these two objectives are not necessarily irreconcilable.

Raising awareness and measuring ecological impact

In response to the challenges of environmental transition, Télécom SudParis' entire training program has undergone significant change. From the first year onwards, students take a course entitled "Technology and ecological issues: a planetary systems approach". The aim of this course is to enable students to understand the scientific mechanisms involved in climate change from a global perspective, and to grasp the associated issues. A second module focuses on the role played by digital technology in these effects. " With these presentations, the idea is to convince students of the need to act, which is an essential step," explains the INTEGRATE pilot, " and also to show them that it is possible to take action, notably through examples of companies committed to these issues, such as Michelin. "

Then, once students are fully aware of the issues at stake, comes the thorny question of measuring the environmental impact of digital technology, which is the subject of a course in the second year. " To my knowledge, no other school has such a module," notes Emmanuel Monfrini. " However, measuring is an essential step in identifying areas for improvement. To create this course, our teacher-researchers went back to basics: using simple measuring devices, such as voltmeters, to measure the energy consumption induced by an algorithm, for example. " This approach is not intended to be exhaustive, but it does help to compare the energy efficiency of a program according to the language used or the way it is coded. This module, in which Sopra Steria and LOG are also involved, thus appears to be a pivotal element of the teaching chair.

Mutual enrichment

Finally, the third year at Télécom SudParis includes a module on corporate social responsibility (CSR), featuring contributions from INTEGRATE's partner organizations. These organizations present the students with projects they are actually working on, and the students, working in teams, come up with ideas on CSR aspects such as lifespan, carbon footprint, life cycle analysis, etc. " For the students, it's also an opportunity to come face-to-face with the reality of a company, with its demands for results, deadlines and regular meetings with their tutor," explains Emmanuel Monfrini. " And as for the partners, firstly, they are able to feed their own thinking into the ideas expressed by the students. But also to confront their own CSR initiatives with the critical eye of future engineers, acquired thanks to the courses they have already taken. " An illustration of the mutual enrichment provided by the Chair, which benefits students, partners and teacher-researchers alike.

Today, ecological transition issues are an integral part of the curriculum at Télécom SudParis. Of the 180 ECTS credits awarded by the school as part of its engineering training, 12 are dedicated to these subjects. And for those who would like to get more involved in the subject, the school offers a "Parcours Environnement". In addition to the above-mentioned courses, this encourages students to tackle ecology-related issues during projects and internships. At the end of the course, students receive a certificate attesting to their expertise in this field.

Consider giving up certain digital solutions

Since its launch in September 2022, the INTEGRATE Chair has produced a number of documents, including guides for professionals. But the most emblematic of these is aimed at students: the "Charte de construction de l'ingénieur d'un numérique responsable ". In ten points, it describes Télécom SudParis' vision of the skills and knowledge that the school intends to pass on to its future graduates. For example, the sixth item corresponds to the module on measuring the environmental impact of digital technology. Points 7 to 9, on the other hand, relate more to the design and implementation of solutions, a know-how developed during the second half of the engineering course.

As for the last ingredient, it is " particularly daring ", according to Emmanuel Monfrini: " Understand with lucidity the strengths and weaknesses of a digital service and accept to give it up if it is incompatible with the development of responsible digital. " This is a surprisingly low-tech recommendation for a school like Télécom SudParis. "It' s essential to bear in mind that digital is not necessarily the best solution to every problem," stresses the school's Director of Training. " The environmental transition can only be achieved through a large-scale change in mentalities.

It is this global evolution that the INTEGRATE Chair aims to support over the long term, even if it was initially agreed for only three years. " Nevertheless, the recent arrival of Caisse des Dépôts has extended the life of the chair, at least until 2026," announces Emmanuel Monfrini. " And we are in discussions with current partners to extend the adventure, as well as with potential new entrants, in particular major players in the energy field. " Major players in the field of ecological transition.