Coralie CALPENA

What is your current job?

I am a consulting engineer atUniversité Grenoble Alpes UGA), more specifically within the DFCA, the Continuing Education and Apprenticeship Department. My role is to support the various departments of the UGA in implementing their policies on continuing education and apprenticeships. I am responsible for the language department, both for short courses and degree programs, and I also develop customized training programs for companies. Finally, I contribute to the visibility and promotion of UGA's training programs.
 

What was your situation before enrolling in the Master's program in Education Sciences?

Before that, my career path had been quite varied: after obtaining an engineering degree, I worked for two years in the field of nuclear safety. Then I worked as a school teacher for over twenty years. I then felt the need to evolve professionally. Thanks to professional training leave, I was able to enroll in a Master's degree in vocational training engineering and educational sciences. It was as a result of this master's degree that I obtained my current position.
 

Why did you choose this Master's program?

I made my choice after assessing my skills and conducting in-depth research into different careers. While exploring various options, I discovered this Master's program, which had similarities with my initial studies and professional experience. Several aspects particularly appealed to me: the diversity of the student body, including both first-time students and those in continuing education, as well as the high employability rate after graduation. The university's reputation also played an important role, as it offered me a guarantee of quality and external recognition of my degree.
 

How did your transition into the workforce go after completing this master's degree?

 
This master's degree enabled me to find a job immediately, in line with the training I had received. That was my main goal. Out of about fifteen applications I sent out, I got five job interviews, which is a very good success rate.
 

What skills did you develop during the Master's program?

This master's degree gave me a solid foundation of knowledge about the world of professional training, its challenges, and its mechanisms. This foundation allowed me to develop more specific skills after I was hired. When I started my job, I already had the necessary knowledge to carry out my duties. I also know that this master's degree opens the door to a wide variety of careers, and that other skills I acquired, such as digital learning, statistical analysis, and training program evaluation, may be useful to me in other professional contexts.
 

What advice would you give to future students?

For those who have a similar profile to mine, I would say that the Master 2 program is very intense, especially the first semester from September to January. During the professional internship in the second semester, you also have to write a master's thesis at the same time. So you need to be available, both in terms of time and mental capacity. It is also essential to plan ahead: you can't make a last-minute decision, especially since applications are due early in the year. For my part, by contacting the program director, I was able to obtain a bibliography and immerse myself in reading during the previous summer. This really helped me get off to a good start in the program.
Published on 22 January 2026
Updated on 22 January 2026