Hydro 2040 – Conclusions

The ENSM is pleased to share with you the conclusions of its forward-looking study, Hydro 2040.

After several weeks of internal consultation between April and June 2025, a document was finalised for public consultation during the summer. Around a hundred contributors offered their vision of the school in the future. Specific examples were given and new ideas emerged to promote the consolidation of Hydro in 2040, the merchant navy officer training school that also trains marine engineers.

It was decided to use this ‘PASSION’ (for more information, see the document) as a basis for drawing up a timetable and various deadlines to help the school carry out a project over time. This document is not strictly speaking a strategy like the objectives and performance contract (COP), but rather a series of projects and ideas that should help to clarify the direction to be taken in the future.

Thus, between now and 2027, the school must continue its work to implement the COP (consideration of ENSM staff, societal issues, attractiveness, diversification of training courses). It emphasises the possibility of going further with new projects involving infrastructure, the development of links with maritime secondary schools, possible new training courses in Saint-Malo, a scaled overseas presence, the strengthening of distance learning, the spin-off of continuing education, the evolution/simplification of on-board training records, the important role of AI, the strengthening of educational engineering, and the link with the French Navy.

The second part targets the 2030 objective with a multi-year investment programme that is already largely complete, a more marked territorialisation of actions, the establishment of a publishing house, a committed research policy, stronger links with businesses, particularly start-ups, and beneficial and better positioned continuing education.

Finally, the 2040 horizon has been set to ensure that the school does not lose its soul. Hydro must remain Hydro. ENSM, which trains merchant navy officers and marine engineers, is a school with a presence throughout France and around the world, a key player in sovereignty, more open and better able to build bridges.

All of its proposals may be reviewed by the authorities in the structuring of a future COP (2028-2032), in particular by the council of interested parties. Its implementation in the coming months will provide Hydro with much-needed new perspectives. It is also sure to elicit reactions from you, and these reactions will give rise to discussions that can only be positive in helping the School to move forward.

Thank you to all contributors, both individuals and groups, and thank you to the students and staff of the School who understood the value of this reflection.

Enjoy reading!