She could find a new dimension to the CNAM

It was the rebel Wick, thunderous laughter and a love of education firmly instilled in the body. This nearly thirty years that Christian Forestier imposes his stature and outspoken media felted of National Education. Newly appointed head of the national Conservatory of arts and crafts, this University Professor is, to sixty-four years, the heavy task of revitalising the prestigious institution. A challenge that tastes this voluntary spirit, which has developed, over the years, the reputation of eating "firefighter" positions "hot." And a return to the sources for this "engineer who has never tried" by love of education... and teachers.

More young Rector of France

"I have a huge debt to my teachers, without which I would be being mount in Michelin tire." "I am a product of the Republican school," he said. They are the ones that encourage young Clermontais, son of worker to push in 1962 the doors of the Insa Lyon, a "revolutionary engineering school", which he likes to think has "forged his personality". Students passionate about microprocessors it will be the subject of his thesis doubles as a political troublemaker, committed to left, "such as those of my generation." Saint-Etienne, where he was appointed Professor of electronics at the ITU and the CNAM, is, he says, "the chance of his life." "We were thirty years without mandarins mômes, and that is that in the wake of May 1968, we are asked to create the University." Vice President in 1974, he became President in 1978, only thirty-four years. Three years later, is, in the wake of May 1981, propelled more young Rector of France by the Minister of National Education, Alain Savary.

Appointed to Reims, and then to Dijon, is however his passage to Créteil, "the Academy of dangers" where it is assigned in 1988, he keeps his best memories. "All school problems are there." I have seen the rise of violence. I is also did things which I am proud, as this preparatory to Saint-Denis class, my preparation "benetton".

After the field, the ors of the Rue de Grenelle: Christian Forestier in turn becomes Director of colleges and secondary schools in 1992, of higher education in 1995. Rescued of the waltz of the political changes, the dyed good socialist, assumed, fabiusien knows acceptance of François Bayrou and Jack Lang, will be Director of cabinet in 2000. The victory of the right in 2002 away it with circles of power, five years "of thinking" including at the Higher Council for the evaluation of the school. Never very far away, however, of the Rue de Grenelle, which he likes to know the small secrets. It is now close to his tenant, Xavier Darcos, with which it shares the love of gastronomy. Man of networks but, said, faithful to its battle horses: the democratization of the school system and the link with the companies, a "red thread" that followed "throughout his career. "Everything is party of Saint-Etienne, where industrial change has forced us to design a University very linked to the economy," he says. This belief was, since, never dropped. She could find a new dimension to the CNAM.