Interview to Anna Rey, member of CFI

Submitted by Borja Dapena G… on 11 December 2019

Anna Rey, member of the CFI, L’Ecole Connectée au Futur de l’Industrie, answered some questions about the CFI and helped us create an image of the vision and direction towards the Factory of the Future.


Can you describe CFI, L´École Connectée au Futur de l´Industrie ? 

CFI, l’Ecole Connectée au Futur de l’Industrie, is an initial and continuing vocational training center dedicated to car and truck maintenance, energy and home automation, electronics and robotics, networks and computer engineering areas.

CFI training offer is adapted to the needs of companies in the industrial sector of today and tomorrow. It bases its ambition of excellence for its apprentices and partners on a strong educational commitment and on its willingness to anticipate changes in its markets.

Over 900 apprentices and 400 adults are trained each year by expert trainers, all with former business experience, on large pedagogic platforms equipped with the latest equipment and devices. CFI’s pedagogy is being adapted to digitalisation through new pedagogical practices.

CFI is among the 19 business and vocational schools of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Region Paris Ile-de-France, CCI Paris Ile-de-France.

What is the situation of vocational education in France? 

Many private and public actors are involved in vocational education in France. One of them is the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Region Paris Ile-de-France, key player n°2 in the educational field after the Education Nationale.

The 19 CCI Paris Ile-de-France schools train more than 34 000 young people, among whom 14 700 are apprentices, and 30 000 adults. About 500 initial and 700 continuing trainings are proposed, all closely linked to companies and professional fields. 

The employment insertion rate 7 months after the end of the training of 87% and above the national average reinforces CCI Paris Ile-de-France schools in their commitment to the professional world. 

Currently, the latest reform of the French vocational training system underway is impacting all areas of the French educational system: work-study, company training, employee rights, but also career guidance, certification, quality, governance.

How do you work identifying new profiles in the Factory of the Future? 

As all its courses are through apprenticeship, CFI is in direct and constant tune with its 800 companies network. This relation allows CFI to be aware of any lack and new skills needs in real time with regard to its fields of expertise. 

This position allows CFI to be part of discussions with professionals, such as companies and branches as well as educational partners to make industrial maintenance training progress to meet factory of the future requirements.

Technological, regulatory and competitive intelligence is also a way for CFI experts to follow up the evolution of jobs.

What is the reason for participating as a partner in the FIT4FoF project? 

The learner-employee / company / training center relationship is at the heart of the FITF4FoF project. From the understanding of training needs of the company to the evaluation of learning outcomes, all phases of the training scenario will involve the three parties (co-design).

This is why CFI felt completely legitimate to participate in this project when it was requested. Indeed, as a vocational training center, it is constantly in direct contact with companies, their future employees in initial training and their employees in continuing education.

At the same time, the current context of technological changes drives CFI to reconsider its current training to evolve to innovative training solutions, incorporating digital and new pedagogies.

Lastly, CFI's contribution to the FIT4FoF project, under the Horizon 2020 program, raises CFI's position to a level of European expertise, enhancing its teams and instilling a positive internal dynamic.

What do you think is the most interesting aspect of the FIT4FoF project?

Two aspects are both to be noted: The connection between the world of training and the company’s one to solve the huge problem of adapting skills to the factory of the future and the "win-win" relationship between each project partner and the project deliverables.

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