This award is a source of immense pride for our institution and represents significant national recognition. Committed for many years to equal opportunity and diversity in the digital professions, our school won the “Award for the Most Original Project” at the Ingénieuses 2026 competition, organized by the CDEFI (Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools).
This award highlights the strength and effectiveness of the concrete initiatives implemented on our Limoges campus. It is a bold project that aims to break new ground and attract women to the digital sciences…
“3iL Women in Engineering”: 4 Concrete and Innovative Initiatives
Our award-winning project stands out for its comprehensive and cross-disciplinary approach. The goal? To address three fundamental pillars simultaneously: career guidance, academic success, and the day-to-day well-being of our female students. To remove the economic, social, or biological barriers that still too often keep women from pursuing careers in tech, 3iL Ingénieurs has structured its program around four key commitments:
- Scholarships for Academic Excellence to Facilitate Access to Higher Education: awarding scholarships of approximately 2,000€ to 10 young women to enable them to enroll in our post-high-school programs with confidence;
- A partnership of excellence with Thales: the launch of a work-study engineering program developed in collaboration with Thales, designed to attract a predominantly female student body. A collaboration that promotes professional integration at the highest level;
- The “R’Libres” project: a collaborative initiative carried out in partnership with the University of Limoges, the CROUS, and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region to break down taboos surrounding intimate health;
- The introduction of menstrual leave: a groundbreaking initiative that provides all female students at the school with the option of taking menstrual leave, ensuring equitable learning conditions that respect each student’s well-being.
Why are such initiatives vital for the tech industry?
At a time when digital technology is shaping our future society, the lack of gender diversity poses a real risk of creating a technological blind spot. The importance of the “Ingénieuses” initiative therefore lies in its ability to break down gender stereotypes. Tech companies have a vital need for diverse talent. Including women is not just a matter of fairness—it is an absolute necessity. To foster innovation, we must therefore broaden our perspectives and develop technologies that are accessible to everyone.
The School’s Vision: An Environment of Trust and Ambition
3iL Ingénieurs loudly and clearly reaffirms its mission: to build a school on a human scale where every talented individual can find their place and thrive.
“To young women who love science and technology, we want to say: we believe in you! You have a rightful place in the engineering profession. Schools and companies need your creativity, your ingenuity, and your perspective to shape the world of tomorrow,” Dominique Baillargeat, Director of 3iL Ingénieurs.
The message to young people is clear: the future of the digital world must not be shaped without women. Through this national award, 3iL Ingénieurs demonstrates that it does more than just train technical experts: it supports citizens—both women and men—who are ready to design a digital world that is more inclusive, humane, and responsible.
Are you a high school student, college student, or professional looking to change careers—and are you interested in tech? Join a school that has won awards for its commitment!