Conférence des directeurs des écoles françaises d'ingénieurs (CDEFI)

Overview

The Conférence des directeurs des écoles françaises d'ingénieurs (CDEFI) is a national association created to represent and coordinate the leadership of France's engineering Grandes Écoles. Founded in 1976, it provides a common voice for school directors on matters of higher education policy, training objectives, and relations with public authorities and industry. For more information see the CDEFI site.

History and purpose

CDEFI emerged in the mid-1970s as engineering education in France expanded and diversified. Its purpose is to enable directors to exchange viewpoints, adopt shared positions, and respond collectively to developments in higher education, research, and the labor market. Over time it has taken on roles in advocacy, quality promotion and international cooperation.

Roles and activities

To fulfil its mission, CDEFI typically undertakes a range of activities including:

• advocacy and representation before ministries and public bodies;
• coordination on pedagogical reforms, professional integration, and continuing education;
• promotion of partnerships with industry and research organizations;

Membership and structure

Membership is composed of the directors (or equivalent leaders) of engineering schools, primarily the French Grandes Écoles that deliver engineering degrees. CDEFI is an association of institutional leaders and should not be confused with accreditation bodies: accreditation of engineering degrees is handled by specialized commissions and agencies.

Relations and distinctions

CDEFI works alongside other national actors—ministries, accreditation bodies and employer federations—to influence the framework for engineering training. It represents institutional leadership rather than individual faculty or student interests, and often complements technical or regulatory organizations by focusing on strategy and collective representation. See also material on Grandes Écoles.

Importance and contemporary issues

In recent years CDEFI has engaged with topics such as international mobility, digital transformation of curricula, stronger links between education and industry, and efforts to broaden access and diversity in engineering. By providing a forum for directors, it helps shape how engineering education adapts to technological change and societal needs.