History

Genesis 1875-1950

1875 Joachim Sudria, founder of the school, was born in Perpignan. Although from a modest family, the young Joachim, supported and encouraged by his teachers, succeeded in entering the l'Ecole Polytechnique. He graduated as an officer in the research and development of the army.

 

ZoomJoachim Sudria

Additional to this success were:

  • a University career with a Doctors Degree and a chair at the « Université libre de Paris »
  • graduation as an engineer from the prestigious Ecole Supérieure d'Electricité (Supélec).

Some of his friends, who acknowledged his pedagogical skills, asked him to tutor their children in preparation for the Competitive exams to the « Grandes Ecoles ».

 

 

1905 : Following up on this success, Joachim Sudria founded the ESME, an Engineering School which at that time offered a two-year degree after the baccalauréat.
Having experienced material difficulties during his own studies, which he achieved only with the aid of State grants, he remained aware of his students' difficulties, and adapted solutions to each case.

1905-1914: The school, situated rue Bertrand in the 7th district, developed to approximately 50 graduates.

1914-1919: The First World War nearly caused the school to close. Students were lacking, and available faculty staff were rare. (About 30% of the students died during the war.)

Agrandir l'imageThe ESME-Sudria in May 1923

1920-1935: The school expanded, and multiplied the number of graduates by nine over a period of three years.

1922: The school obtained state-recognition, and extended the degree to three years after the baccalauréat.

1925: The premises became too small, so a new site was created rue de Sèvres in Paris, in buildings which have since been demolished and replaced by the « Services d'Urologie » of the Hôpital Necker. One of the school's neighbor was the Ecole Polytechnique Féminine (EPF, today situated at Sceaux) founded and directed by Mademoiselle Paris.The bond between the two schools was reinforced when Madame Piguet, the first female graduate of the ESME, was appointed Studies Director at the EPF.

1935: Still expanding, the ESME moved to rue Blaise Desgoffe in Paris, which has remained its principal address until 2004.

1936: The « Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur » was created, and accorded the ESME the right to deliver the degree of Mechanical-Electrical Engineer.

1939-1945: The ESME was affected, like many other schools, by the Second World War, with professors and students being enlisted. It gave shelter to students who were French Resistants, and was victim of a Gestapo descent.

1941: Pierre Doceul, a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and an Armaments Engineer, son-in-law to Joachim Sudria, was appointed Deputy-Head of the school.

1949: Under his direction a section of Electronics Engineering was opened to complete the Electrical Engineering section, and the school awarded both degrees.
It was only 15 years later that the two sections both awarded a degree as an Engineer Graduate of the ESME.