First-Year Program

Statistics is an integral part of applied mathematics. It is based on the calculation of probabilities. In the first year, after the mathematical supplements needed to bring students who have not attended the scientific preparatory classes up to the required level, students take four courses that are fundamental to a scientific understanding of the statistical techniques taught later: integration, probability, introduction to statistics and multivariate exploratory statistics.

Students also carry out several statistical projects, in groups, using descriptive or more advanced statistical methods. The SAS and R statistical software packages are also taught.

First-year computer science teaching is based on three main concepts: algorithms, application design, and data storage. Links are made with statistics courses.

Python is the language used in the 1st year. Algorithms are first introduced with basic algorithmic notions. Students from the "Economics" and "BUT SD" tracks also benefit from a course on the algorithmics and programming of the algorithms studied. In the second phase, an introduction to object-oriented programming is given using the Python language. The link with statistics is established through practical exercises using Python in the Optimization and Numerical Methods course.

Application design is covered through courses on code documentation (including the UML modeling metalanguage) and a data processing project. Finally, files, relational databases, and SAS/R statistical tables are the three main data storage modes put into practice. File access is covered in the object programming and project courses. SQL is the standard tool for implementing and querying relational databases.

The aim of the economics, management and social sciences courses is to give all students the ability to analyze and understand the essential aspects of the contemporary world, through the mobilization of economic modeling and data derived from human behavior.

In the first year, a distinction is made between students with a good knowledge of economic and social sciences and those who are beginners or have only had a first introduction to this discipline. For the former, the school offers an applied macroeconomics program covering recent developments in formalized economics, and for the latter, more progressive courses, with in particular an introduction to macroeconomic modeling (contemporary macroeconomic issues) and an introduction to the social sciences.

For Data Scientists and public statisticians, the notion of competence refers to autonomy and the ability to act in the field of data production and analysis, and decision-making in complex situations (non-repetitive tasks). Knowledge of mathematics, computer science, statistics, and economics (ENSAI's DNA) forms the essential foundation for the training of a competent Data Scientist. Cross-disciplinary skills, or Soft Skills, are also essential to make the most of the potential acquired during the 3 years at ENSAI in a professional context.

The school has produced a set of skills adapted to the future careers of the students it trains. A Data Scientist is expected to display important qualities in the following areas: intellectual rigor, analytical reasoning and conceptualization, creativity and a sense of innovation, communication and pedagogy, human relations, teamwork in project mode and time management, openness to the world, and social and civic responsibility. These qualities are put to work in the various learning processes: courses, practical work, and personal work.

The school has chosen to focus specifically on building students' skills in "knowing how to act", mainly through situations that are as close as possible to professional situations: projects, Data Challenges, internships, and student association work.

Communication techniques and project management are taught progressively, based on practical experience and personalized advice. Students are introduced to these skills as part of the descriptive statistics project in their first year, and then develop them by working on the projects that punctuate their studies, in particular the second-year statistics project, the second-year IT project, and the third-year statistics project.

During the first-year observation internship, students broaden their knowledge of the professional world and develop their analytical skills through report writing.

The "Professional Project" in the second and third years enables students to get to know themselves better, in particular through the use of a personality test widely used in recruitment, to enhance their skills in their search for an internship or a job by preparing the supporting documents for their applications, and to put their scientific and behavioral skills into practice during their application internship in statistics and their end-of-study internship.

The study of English is compulsory throughout the school year. Students are divided into groups of varying levels, to ensure appropriate content and pedagogy. TOEIC preparation modules are integrated into the courses, but the acquisition and development of linguistic and communicative skills remain the main objectives. Level B2 of the CEFR is compulsory to obtain the engineering diploma, but the courses aim to acquire level C1. In addition to language skills, English courses aim to equip future engineers with cross-disciplinary skills that will enable them to operate in a variety of international contexts, keep abreast of scientific developments, and understand cultural norms in foreign countries. Humanities courses aim to deepen students' knowledge of several disciplines in the arts, social sciences, and humanities. By virtue of their structure and content, they enable students to develop cross-disciplinary skills, notably those linked to openness to the world and social and civic responsibility.

Students can choose from two types of courses:

Optional languages: Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish can be studied from A1 to B2+ level. In addition to language and communication skills, optional language courses aim to prepare future engineers to operate in multicultural contexts.

Open courses: Several options are organized each year. Some courses focus on general culture (geopolitics, art history, philosophy...), while others stimulate creativity and self-awareness through artistic practice (drawing, music, painting, theater...). Finally, the opportunity to participate in associative activities or special projects encourages social and civic commitment.