"Arts et Métiers ParisTech students are renowned among our faculties for their technical capabilities and their motivations ..." - Prof David Dornfeld, U.C. Berkeley Dean of Mechanical Engineering
On February 10, 2011, Arts et Métiers ParisTech signed a partnership agreement with University of California, Berkeley to expand their research cooperation through the bilateral exchange of graduate students and researchers. The fields of focus include green building technologies, sustainable manufacturing, and smart grids. Under the terms of the agreement, several graduate research positions will be set aside by U.C.Berkeley for qualified Arts et Métiers ParisTech graduate students every year. In addition, graduate students from U.C. Berkeley will have the option to follow a Masters curriculum at Arts et Métiers ParisTech and apply to industrial internship positions in France through the Arts et Métiers ParisTech industry connections and intern placement services. The collaboration agreement was signed by UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau and by Arts et Métiers ParisTech Vice Chairman in charge of International Affairs Jean-Marie Castelain. Much of the work that lead to this agreement can be credited to Professor David Dornfeld, Chair of U.C. Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering's department and to AFAM board member Xavier Wartelle, General Manager of Paris Region Internal Mission Enterprise (PRIME). Also present at the ceremony were Materials Science and Engineering Professor Ronald Gronsky, Audrey Stewart, Arts et Métiers ParisTech International Relations, Thomas Deschamps from the San Francisco Consulat de France, and Eric Benhamou, President of AFAM.
From left to right: Xavier Wartelle, David Dornfeld, Eric Benhamou, Jean-Marie Castelain, Robert Birgeneau, Thomas Deschamps, Ronald Gronsky