Anne Damon has just been appointed President of the Board of Directors of ISTP, the Institut supérieur des techniques de la performance. ISTP serves as the educational partner of Mines Saint-Étienne for work-study Academics for specialized engineers trained in direct collaboration with companies. As the head of the ANTARES company, she possesses extensive experience in higher education through successive mandates at the heart of Academics, and demonstrates significant commitment to the economic sector.
1 – This appointment is closely linked to higher education; do you view this mandate as a continuation or an operational return to the field of Academics?
This is not an operational position, but after having served in various management roles (1), my professional career led me to become an entrepreneur and to hold various mandates, some of which were operational. Higher education requires technical knowledge that I have acquired throughout my career, which will allow me to understand the scope of the mission and the challenges more quickly and easily.
(1) Successively Head of CCI Formation Saint-Étienne, Director of ESC Saint-Étienne, Director of Economic Development for the Saint-Étienne CCI, General Delegate of CCI Entreprendre en France, and then Director General of the Saint-Étienne CCI, she became Director of Education and Academics for the Lyon CCI in 2007 (a mandate she held for two years).
2 – You have already been an active member of the ISTP Strategic Orientation Committee for several years; will you be continuing this mission?
The SOC has historically been chaired by the President of ISTP and is not necessarily composed of directors; I was already a co-opted member and contributor, in connection with my professional activities (2). Today I am changing roles: I no longer have the same function, but I will undoubtedly make the same contribution, albeit in a different capacity.
(2) President of the direct members of MEDEF Loire, Director of Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, and President of the membership committee, Anne Damon also serves as an economic and social advisor.
3 – What are the priorities you have set for your new mandate?
They are not yet fully defined and will be carried out in conjunction with Cyril Faure, Director General of ISTP, and the Board of Directors.
The first priority concerns the consolidation of relations between the École des Mines and ISTP, which are closely linked, and beyond that, developing these ties to benefit the growth and reputation of both institutions. The ongoing exchanges between Pascal Ray, Director of Mines Saint-Étienne, and Cyril Faure, Director of ISTP, as well as those between the teams of teachers, tutors, and research professors, contribute to the continuous consolidation of our collaborations. It is very positive.
A second focus will be to continue monitoring the qualification and skill requirements of companies, in order to be able to offer the economic world the degrees and pathways that correspond to these needs.
Finally, it will also involve consolidating, beyond the school’s educational relationships, more institutional partnerships (with the economic world, the Mines-Télécom network, etc.). All of this will be formalized before the summer of 2018.
In conclusion?
The economic development of a region depends on a number of ingredients, and the presence of high-quality higher education is one of those ingredients, alongside high-level research, which also constitutes a key element of this development.
Students and apprentices must evolve within this strong context, regardless of the geographical scope considered.
These issues are all the more strategic as we are now operating within a Metropolis: we must be capable of cooperating intelligently and developing close, lasting relationships at both the local and national levels.
Let us keep our primary mission in mind: to offer educational pathways of excellence and the best possible career integration for our graduates, always in alignment with the economic world.
