National School of Administration

[EduCativ]

ENA was created just after the end of the Second World War by executive order (Ordonnance) of the French Republic's provisional government, then led by General de Gaulle.
This ordonnance, dated October 9, 1945, was prepared by a temporary task force on administrative reform, led by Michel Debré, then a member of the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat, France's highest administrative court). It intended to "fully overhaul France's administrative machinery," virtually by broadening access to recruitment for the highest executive levels of the non-technical civil service through a joint entrance examination.
ENA has continued to update its structures and educational program to remain faithful to the principles that guided its foundation in 1945.
Administrative personnel, researchers, archivists, pedagogical advisers, warehouse personnel, audiovisuals, and copying technicians all work together to ensure that the school functions well.
ENA has a permanent teaching staff of only 2, French as a foreign language and in sports. More than 1,500 other teachers are recruited each year for all of the school's different educational programs, coordinated by the educational directors.
Besides student delegates, ENA's Board of Directors, chosen for their competence, includes, among others, members of the National Assembly, the Senate and the European Parliament, reflecting the strong European and international character of the school. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is, ex officio, the Vice-President of the Council of State, the nation's highest-ranking civil servant.
The Long International Course is a general course. It helps students deepen their knowledge on European issues and become familiar with the French administration. This course allows them to benefit from the same training as the French students at ENA. The latter passed the entrance examinations, particularly from two internships, one based on European Affairs and one on Regional Affairs (France).
The Long International Course (14 months + 1,5 months*) is aimed at young foreign civil servants and foreign public agents, and in some very exceptional cases, to foreigners who have shown a career plan that involves a commitment to public service their countries of origin.
Administrateurs civils serves in all ministries. The majority of the positions offered to students graduating from ENA form part of this civil service category (corps).
The areas of action handled by each ministry or central government agency are incredibly varied. Each administration has its specific characteristics, and a choice assumes a considerable interest in the area of activity chosen.
A Committee for the History of ENA was created in 1999. A natural part of the school's Director's Office, this committee draws on the testimony of former students, members of the school's administration, teachers, and members of examination boards, and many others who have taken part in the school's operations.
Certain documents essential for intimate knowledge of the school are also made available: courses, lectures, student work (reports on professional training experiences or seminars), directors' reports, reports of the chairpersons of examination panels, etc.

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