The second year of the ICM programme marks a key milestone: students define their engineering profile by selecting their Majors and Societal Challenges, and by leading their first technological innovation projects. This year also introduces international mobility and the professional internship, both of which consolidate learning through practical experience.
🎯 Second Year Objectives
- Deepen scientific and technical skills.
- Develop creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Discover project-based engineering.
- Gain exposure to international experiences and the diversity of professional environments.
📚 Organisation of the year
| Semester | Main Focus Areas | Projects and Internships |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 7 (S7) | • Core Curriculum Management and Performance (80 h) • Scientific Major (160 h) • Toolbox (80 h) • Modern Languages (40 h) • Elective Activity Sectors (20 h) and Intercultural Discovery (20 h) | • TECH Project (applied technological project) |
| Semester 8 (S8) | •Toolbox (2 modules of 40 h) • Societal Challenge (80 h) • Modern Languages (40 h) • Elective Skills Workshop (20 h) | • Innovation, Creation, and Entrepreneurship Project (PRICE) • Practical Internship (10 to 12 weeks) |
⚙️ The Choice of Majors and Societal Challenge
At the beginning of the year, each student builds a personalized pathway by choosing:
- Two scientific and technological majors from ten:
- Industrial and Territorial Environment
- Fluid Dynamics
- Production Management and Logistics
- Business Management and Finance
- Data Science
- Computer science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Energy Processes
- Materials
- Mechanics
- One societal challenge from eight:
- Ecological Transition
- Levers and Management of Industrial Renewal
- Design Thinking and Innovation
- Eco-design
- Big Data
- Health and Personalized Medicine
- Nanotechnologies
- Artificial intelligence
These choices shape the scientific and human profile of the engineering student, and guide their projects, internships, and third-year specialization.
🧠 Elective Modules and Transversal Skills
In parallel with scientific courses and projects, students follow elective modules that foster their professional and personal development:
- Management, Communication, and Interculturality,
- Leadership and Responsible Innovation,
- Languages and Corporate Culture,
- Sustainable Development and Transitions.
🧭 The Capstone Projects
The capstone projects punctuate all three years of the ICM programme and ensure strong pedagogical continuity.
In the second year, they take the form of two major projects: the TECH Project and the Innovation, Creation, and Entrepreneurship Project.
These projects encourage value creation, experimentation, and interdisciplinary work, building on the skills acquired in the chosen majors and challenges.
🔬 The TECH Project
The TECH Project places students in a real engineering situation: they must design, size, or model a technical solution to a concrete problem.
Objectives
- Apply scientific knowledge in an operational framework,
- Work in teams using advanced engineering tools,
- Understand the design and validation process of a prototype.
TECH projects are often carried out in partnership with companies, laboratories, or local authorities, in the fields of materials, data, energy, or health.
💡 The Innovation, Creation, and Entrepreneurship Project (PRICE)
This project aims to stimulate the spirit of innovation and initiative among students.
They work in teams on the design of an innovative product, service, or business model, applying the methods of design thinking and lean startup.
Objectives
- Identify a real need and propose an innovative solution,
- Develop creativity and project management skills,
- Discover the stages of business creation (prototype, pitch, business model).
This project is an integral part of the learning-by-doing pedagogy specific to Mines Saint-Étienne.
🌍 International Opportunities
The second year introduces the international experience, which has become mandatory in the ICM programme.
It can take several forms:
- a semester abroad,
- a practical internship abroad,
- or participation in a double degree program (in the final year).
Mines Saint-Étienne has over 140 partners in 50 countries, and belongs to the networks Erasmus+, Arfitec, Brafitec, TIME, and EULIST.
💼 The Practical Internship
The practical internship (S8), lasting 10 to 12 weeks, allows students to apply acquired knowledge in a real-world setting.
It takes place in a company, a laboratory, or a startup, in France or abroad.
Objectives
- Apply engineering and management tools,
- Integrate into a project team,
- Analyze industrial and organizational processes,
- Develop communication and reporting skills.
This internship constitutes a first experience of responsibility and prepares students for the final-year internship.