Coronavirus: Atelier de Sèvres answers your questions
Atelier de Sèvres remains open remotely, in line with lockdown measures and the closure of establishments. From admission procedures to course organisation and teaching input—Atelier de Sèvres answers all your questions!
ADMISSIONS
Are admissions still taking place during lockdown? If so, how?
Admissions take place remotely via Collaborate or Skype. Do not hesitate to arrange an appointment for an interview:
The admissions interview is not an exam but a first-hand exchange during which the candidate expresses their motivation and interest in art. The admissions officer assesses the candidate’s general and artistic knowledge, open-mindedness, level and commitment.
Can I send my application by post?
Yes, the school’s teams are still receiving post. Applicants can also send the various application documents by email at the same time as sending their completed and scanned application.
Is there a digital alternative for those with no access to a post office?
In order to facilitate registration, adjustments were put in place during the lockdown period. As such, applications can be returned in PDF format by email and payment of the registration fee will be requested at a later date.
Are admissions still taking place? In what format? How should portfolios be submitted?
Admissions are still taking place and teaching staff are supporting candidates.
Admissions are taking place remotely via Skype or Collaborate.
In terms of the portfolio, it must contain recent personal work: sketchbooks, drawings, photos, models, engravings, videos—there is no set content required. Portfolios must, above all, reflect the candidate’s current level, skills and creativity. Applicants can submit their portfolio directly online during their appointment. Students are advised to use WeTransfer to send any large files.
Are candidates required to have a Baccalaureate to join Atelier de Sèvres?
It is preferable to prove that you have completed baccalaureate-level qualifications to enter the art or animation foundation courses or the first year the degree course, but an exemption system exists, which is generally the case for all art schools since they place more importance on candidates’ profiles than their knowledge, and this is also the case at Atelier de Sèvres.
COURSE CONTINUITY
Is the school closed during lockdown?
The buildings are closed but the schools remain open! All of the teaching and administrative teams are working remotely and continue to carry out their assignments with their students.
Classes are held online using the Blackboard Collaborate training tool. Students can follow on-demand training and participate in real-time lessons in virtual classrooms. They can ask questions, interact with their teachers and classmates, and share documents.
As for admissions, these have always taken place remotely via Collaborate and Skype. Candidates can talk with admissions officers and show their work online.
How is the school keeping in touch with students during lockdown?
All of the schools’ teaching and administrative teams are working remotely and continue to carry out their assignments with their students. Teachers hold their classes online via Blackboard Collaborate, allowing students to participate in lessons in real time, ask questions, interact with their teachers and classmates, and exchange documents.
Links with the students are also maintained through the use of various tools such as Messenger or Slack.
Are classes still taking place during lockdown?
Since establishments were ordered to close, the school has implemented online classes to ensure our students can continue their training. All of the schools’ teaching teams are working remotely and continue to carry out their assignments with their students. Classes are held online using the Blackboard Collaborate training tool. Students can follow on-demand training and participate in real-time lessons in virtual classrooms. They can ask questions, interact with their teachers and classmates, and share documents.
How are practical classes taking place during lockdown?
Like theoretical classes, practical classes are being held remotely, via the online training tool Blackboard Collaborate. Students can follow on-demand training (tutorials) and participate in real-time virtual classes. They can ask questions, interact with their teachers and classmates, and share documents. They can also show the progression of their work to their teacher with their camera and ask for feedback.
How will the end-of-year exams take place?
The schools are ensuring that courses and training continue. As such everything is being done in our schools so that students can graduate their year. Depending on the establishment, the exams and vivas are still taking place in June or are postponed to September.
WORK PLACEMENTS
Can the company at which the work placement is being undertaken furlough its workers?
Yes, the trainee's company can furlough its workers.
Furloughing is a tool which enables an employer in difficulty to have all or part of its employees’ wages covered. It is outlined by articles L. 5122-1 et seq and R. 5122-1 et seq of the employment code. Faced with the scale of the health crisis linked to Covid-19, the Government has transformed the former furlough system: whereas it was previously a lump sum and capped at 7.74 euros, the allowance paid by the State to the company is now proportional to the income of furloughed employees, up to a ceiling of 4.5 times the minimum wage. This adjustment should allow companies to avoid redundancies and retain skills and for employees to keep their jobs. Furloughing can take several forms:
- A reduction in weekly working hours
- The temporary closure of all or part of the establishment
During the furlough period:
- The employer receives an allowance from the Services and Payment Agency (ASP) equivalent to a part of the hourly pay of the furloughed employee;
- The employee receives a furlough indemnity from their employer, in lieu of their wages for the period during which they are furloughed.
What steps must companies take?
Companies can apply for a furlough allowance for one or more employees unable to work, if one of the following applies:
- It is affected by restrictions requiring the closure of the company;
- It is faced with a reduction in activity/supply difficulties;
- It is faced with the impossibility of implementing the preventive measures necessary to protect employees’ health (working remotely, social distancing, etc.)
These steps should be carried out directly online here.
What happens to a student on a placement if their company furloughs its workers?
A student on a placement is not an ordinary employee because they do not have an employment contract in place with the company but rather a work placement agreement. They are therefore not eligible for the furlough scheme.
It is possible for the work placement to continue if the company offers its employees the possibility to work remotely and if the position and the equipment available to the student allow this.
If working remotely is not possible, the work placement is cancelled or postponed with the agreement of the establishment and the trainee.
Can trainees receive pay if their work placement is suspended?
Pay is only applicable for work placements of more than two months in attendance. The amount of pay is calculated on the basis of this presence. Work placements suspended due to the health crisis will not be paid. There is also no furlough pay for those on work placements.
Can work placements be undertaken remotely?
During the lockdown period, companies can implement remote working to allow their activity to continue and to ensure the protection of its employees. Remote working is imperative for all positions that allow it. As such, students can continue their work placement remotely if their host company allows it.
If employees’ work cannot be done from home, trainees may, if their employer accepts, continue to exercise their activity at their place of work while taking care to respect government guidelines and social distancing measures and being in possession of the certificate to travel between home and work.
Will students’ grades be affected if their work placement is suspended?
The requirement to undertake professional training has been suspended until further notice. If the work placement is suspended, the student will not be penalised. The work placement can be postponed and rearranged. It is possible for students to sign an addendum to their work placement agreement with the host company. Atelier de Sèvres’ teaching staff is available to help manage this.
Can a student still graduate if their work placement is cancelled?
In light of these exceptional circumstances, compulsory work placements that could not start or that have been suspended will be rescheduled or cancelled. The validation of skills as part of the diploma and certification is possible by means other than the work placement.
Can students continue to look for a work placement?
It is still possible for students to continue looking for work placements ahead of things returning to normal. Students are also in contact with their teachers at Atelier de Sèvres who are active professionals, and with students in the preceding years who can share experience and contacts with them.
Given the difficulties businesses are facing and the reduced operations of many host companies, students may not receive an answer.
Can students start a work placement during lockdown?
Yes, students can start a work placement in a company that practices remote working or that allows its employees to come to their workplace in compliance with safety measures. The work placement must be approved by Atelier de Sèvres and outlined by a work placement agreement. For more information, please contact the teaching team at Atelier de Sèvres.
What can students do if they are undertaking their work placement abroad?
In line with governmental measures, students abroad have been asked to return to France, and where necessary, contact their course leader to inform them.
