Every two years, the “Questions de Pédagogie dans l'Enseignement Supérieur” (QPES) conference brings together a large French-speaking community of teachers, researchers, engineers, and educational advisors. Conferences, presentations, themed symposiums, workshops, and social events allow participants to draw inspiration from new practices and scientific advances, exchange ideas, and imagine new approaches. In May 2025, the Brest edition* focused more specifically on training ecosystems and their role in transformation.
Coming from many French-speaking countries (Belgium, Canada, France, Madagascar, Morocco, Switzerland, etc.), more than 300 conference participants gathered for three days in Brest. The conference began and ended with a session dedicated to students, providing them with an opportunity for inspiration to better understand their desires and expectations and to build the higher education of tomorrow together.
We wanted to offer a program that would allow for reflective work with presentations by leading figures such as Renaud Hétier and Irène Pereira, scientific presentations by those involved in education, and very practical workshops so that each participant could leave with a toolbox and very concrete ideas for developing their practices
explains Catherine Adam, associated professor in human sciences at ENSTA and member of the organizing committee.
Cooperation, inclusion, artificial intelligence, ecological transition, distance learning, and co-modalities... many key issues for higher education were addressed during the various sessions and developed during the discussions planned for conference participants. A facilitator was also present at the pre-conference to transform the concepts and themes discussed into frescoes.
Clémence Chupin and Rodéric Moitié are teachers at ENSTA and participated in this conference to further their thinking on their teaching practices:
This was my first time participating in this conference, says Clémence, and I found these three days very enriching. I took part in several small group sessions, where the discussions allowed us to discover solutions implemented in other institutions, understand what works and what doesn't depending on the context, and interact on our issues.
One of the key topics,“ adds Rodéric, ”was artificial intelligence, particularly in the context of assessment. Among the ideas discussed was peer assessment, which, when properly framed, encourages greater student involvement and a better understanding of the skills being sought. We are leaving with ideas for reflection and progress to be implemented.
At the end of the three-day conference, the feedback from participants was excellent. They confirmed the role of a conference such as QPES, which acts as a “breath of fresh air” for attendees: it is a source of inspiration, a place to expand one's network, but also a breeding ground for future transformations.
*The 2025 edition of the QPES conference was organized by ENSTA, IMT Atlantique, the University of Western Brittany, and the Naval Academy.
