Portrait of Ruth Lied – Head of International Relations at CESI, Northwest Regional Directorate
In this page:
- Introducing Ruth and her professional background
- Her role as Head of International Relations at CESI
Meet Ruth Lied, Head of International Relations at CESI in the Northwest Regional Directorate. She shares her professional background, her role, as well as her current projects, missions, and ambitions within CESI.
Introducing Ruth and her professional background
Can you tell us about your professional background and what motivated you to work in international relations?
Of course. To begin with, I would say that my international journey began a long time ago, during my childhood. I’m an American citizen, but I grew up in Eastern Europe because my parents worked with non-governmental organizations there. From an early age, I developed a strong interest in intercultural exchange as I was immersed in a multilingual and multicultural environment. Even at that time, I already knew I wanted a career that would allow me to interact with people from diverse cultures on a regular basis while using multiple languages.
That’s why I decided to pursue international studies in the United States, complemented by a degree in the French language. After graduating I began my career teaching English in France, I quickly recognized higher education as a particularly stimulating field because I enjoy working with students, who are dynamic, full of curiosity, positive energy, and innovative ideas. This inspired me to focus on supporting students with their international mobility, helping them get acclimated to French culture and developing partnerships with universities worldwide. Moreover, I have the chance to travel and meet people with diverse backgrounds. My ultimate goal is to internationalize and enrich the lives of our students, as well as those of our partners and colleagues. If I can contribute to creating a more understanding and connected world, I will feel truly fulfilled in my role.
What motivates me the most today, is the opportunity to innovate, support, and learn constantly. I have the opportunity to work in a diverse and growing field. I get to work on projects that require a combination of technical, administrative, intercultural, and multilingual skills.
Were there any people or events that significantly influenced your career in international relations?
Yes, I would say the years of experience as a language assistant at ENSAM (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers), where I worked with engineering students, was decisive. I saw the need students had for guidance to prepare their international mobility, particularly in terms of finding internships abroad.
In this context, I organized workshops with ENSAM alumni working in the United States and the United Kingdom to offer current students practical advice on preparing for their international journeys. That was the moment when I realized the importance of creating connections between professionals and students and providing them with the tools to take hold of international opportunities.
Her role as Head of International Relations at CESI
As Head of International Relations at CESI, what are your main responsibilities?
My responsibilities are quite varied. I coordinate the outbound and inbound mobility of students and staff within the Northwest region, which includes four campuses: Rouen, Caen, Lille and Arras. My goal is to increase the number of international students and projects while ensuring that international and domestic students are well-supported and have access to a wide range of international opportunities. I also manage the development and maintenance of partnerships in specific regions: the UK and Ireland, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, and English-speaking Africa. I aim to establish dynamic partnerships that benefit CESI students through academic exchanges, double degrees, and internships, while also internationalizing our campuses by hosting international students. Furthermore, I connect our researchers and professors with their colleagues at partner institutions to share best practices, develop collaborative teaching programs, and initiate joint research projects.
What projects or initiatives are you currently leading at CESI?
I’m currently working on several exciting projects. For example, negotiating a double degree agreement with Nottingham Trent University in the UK, which would give our students an opportunity to pursue studies in civil or power engineering and earn a British Master’s degree. We’re also in discussions with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to establish new cooperation agreements.
In parallel, I manage a partnership with QS to promote our English-language programs globally. I’m organizing a project in collaboration with CESI Arras faculty, Strathmore University in Kenya, and the company STMicroelectronics. A group of Strathmore students will work for a week alongside CESI’s fourth-year general engineering and IT students in Arras, using STMicroelectronics sensors to develop skills in embedded systems and IoT. Finally, I’m working on a Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP) project focused on robotics in collaboration with several European partners.
What challenges do you face in your role and how do you overcome them?
One of the unique aspects of my work is the diversity of communication styles. University representatives and students come from all over the world, and each institution operates differently with their unique internationalization strategy. The solution I’ve found is to communicate regularly with my contacts across multiple platforms, using active listening to address their needs and resolve potential miscommunications.
What are your future goals or ambitions at CESI?
My ambition is to increase the number of English-speaking international students enrolling in degree programs or academic exchange at CESI by creating diverse pathways for study progression and exploring funding sources like Erasmus Mic programs. I also aim to sustain the ongoing internationalization projects on our campuses to solidify our relationships with current partners.
Another way to strengthen our partnerships is by encouraging our faculty, researchers, and staff to take advantage of international teaching and training opportunities. Simultaneously, I wish to increase the number of students participating in academic exchanges and ensure they are aware of the wealth of opportunities available, whether through semester-long academic exchanges or double degree programs.
I strive to offer CESI students the opportunity to experience the richness of studying in an intercultural and international environment across all our campuses and programs
I strive to offer CESI students the opportunity to experience the richness of studying in an intercultural and international environment across all our campuses and programs
Ruth Lied, Head of International Relations at CESI, Northwest Regional Directorate