Visit of French design school EEGP

Nicolas, what is EEGP and how did it start?

EEGP, or Ecole Européenne de Graphisme Publicitaire, started as a small institution run by my father. The college has now grown to nearly two hundred students and has trained more than a thousand graphic designers, creative, graphic designers, art directors, web designers, photographers and illustrators, now working in France and around the world.

Why do people come to a school like EEGP?

Like Prague College, EEGP provides a truly vocational education, in our case for students aged 17 to 23. We believe in learning by doing, or learning by making; and our practical-based education provides an excellent alternative to a purely academic route.

Which courses do you offer?

We start with the level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Art and Design, after which students go on to French qualifications such as the BTS, while others choose to advance in the Pearson BTEC, which we've been offering since 1996. Like Prague College, we do Graphic Design and Interactive Media, as well as a number of other related programmes.

And later?

Well, some of our students go on to extend their learning in France - perhaps with a Masters in Creation Management or Web Design; but I am also keen that they should travel and see the world - one of the reasons we have partnerships like this one with Prague College. Two of our students have already completed their BAs at Prague College, you have another two currently enrolled, and six will be applying in the coming year. Prague College's art and design programmes are a logical extension of the Pearson BTEC which we teach.

EEGP has strong links with the world of business. How important is that?

My own background is in marketing and communication - I've  worked in all kinds of companies from NGOs to advertising agencies to hospitality. So it's natural for us to make connections with industry. As a result, 90% of our students find employment within three months of leaving - and the college network helps to find two-thirds of those jobs.

Do you have any plans for the future?

We'd like to continue to set up projects with our partners, including some sort of student exchange - especially as the Loire is a wonderful area of France, with its historic castles and vineyards. And we look forward, of course, to many more years of successful visits like this one, introducing our students to Prague College.