Paper 11. The French experience

Civil Engineering is one of the oldest professions. The need for protection against natural or human hazards has led to the birth of a specific craft which has produced magnificent monuments during past history.

These structures have been built by highly skilled people acting as architects-engineers as well as managers. As scientific and technical knowledge has been increasing this one-man practice became more and more difficult.

To-day technical functions and managerial duties attached to the construction process are generally performed by different persons. It appears nevertheless that, given the specificities of our profession, managerial responsibilities should be exercised preferably by people possessing sound technical basis. This is typically the case in France where most managers of Civil Engineering firms are engineers by education.