Through this collaboration, students at IE University will have the opportunity to pursue a dual master’s degree, earning both the master’s in computer science & business technology from IE University and the Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech.
“This collaboration reflects how engineering education is evolving—more connected, more applied, and increasingly global,” said Ikhlaq Sidhu, Dean at IE School of Science & Technology. “Students need both technical depth and the ability to operate across systems, industries, and regions. This kind of structure makes that possible.”
Georgia Tech-Europe is Georgia Tech’s flagship international instructional site, located in Metz, France. Georgia Tech ranks among the world’s top public research universities. The partnership between IE and Georgia Tech‑Europe provides students with access to world-class STEM education, hands-on research opportunities, and connections to industry and entrepreneurial ecosystems across Europe.
“"Georgia Tech-Europe’s partnership with IE University reflects a shared commitment to innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, and global impact, bringing together two institutions dedicated not only to preparing students for a rapidly changing world, but to shaping it," said Abdallah Ougazzaden, President of Georgia Tech-Europe.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across graduate education, student mobility, faculty exchange, and research. Undergraduate students in the final year of IE University’s bachelor’s in computer science & Artificial Intelligence may be recommended for admission to Georgia Tech’s graduate program, in accordance with its standard admissions requirements. Following acceptance, will complete the master’s in computer science & business technology at IE University before continuing to the Master of Science in Computer Science at Georgia Tech.
The program includes a multi-campus international academic experience: students will begin their Master of Science studies at Georgia Tech-Europe in Metz during the fall term and complete the program at Georgia Tech’s Atlanta campus in the spring. Each institution will award its respective degree upon successful completion of its academic requirements.
The agreement also promotes faculty and researcher exchanges, the development of joint research projects, and coordinated support for students throughout admissions, mobility, and academic progression.
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Through this collaboration, students at IE University will have the opportunity to pursue a dual master’s degree, earning both the master’s in computer science & business technology from IE University and the Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech.
]]>The latest edition of Le Mensuel Grand Est, the premier magazine covering the economy, politics, and culture of the Grand Est region, highlights individuals who play a key role in the growth and economic development of the region. For over 20 years, Ougazzaden has contributed to the international reputation of the Georgia Institute of Technology through his research, publications, and leadership at Georgia Tech-Europe.
Ougazzaden is a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and serves as president of Georgia Tech-Europe, the Institute’s off-campus instructional site in Metz, France. He is the co-founder and co-president of the Institut Lafayette, a platform for innovation and technology transfer. He played a leading role in the creation of the Joint International Research Lab between Georgia Tech and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), serving as its director for three terms.
Ougazzaden was recognized for his prolific academic career in semiconductor materials and device fabrication for optoelectronic applications, having published more than 500 scientific articles and holding 30 patents. His current research focuses on wide-bandgap semiconductors, two-dimensional materials, and related devices for optoelectronic applications.
In June 2025, the Institut Lafayette was awarded an innovation prize for research collaborations with local industry in intelligent battery-integrated systems. In the same month, Georgia Tech-Europe announced plans to expand its facility to double the number of American students studying in Metz.
Ougazzaden’s recognition highlights the far-reaching impact of Georgia Tech-Europe and its commitment to advancing education, research, and global collaboration in the region. As the campus continues to expand and foster connections with industry and the broader community, it stands as a testament to the value of international partnerships in shaping the future of higher education.
]]>Ougazzaden co-founded the Institut Lafayette and helped establish the Joint International Research Lab between Georgia Tech and CNRS. A leading researcher in semiconductor materials and optoelectronic devices, he has published over 500 papers and holds 30 patents. Recent milestones include an innovation prize for Institut Lafayette’s industry collaborations on battery-integrated systems and plans to expand Georgia Tech-Europe in Metz to accommodate more American students. His work underscores the role of international partnerships in advancing research, education, and regional economic development.
]]>In the basement of the Louvre, scientists at the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France (C2RMF) work at the frontier of cultural heritage preservation. Their challenge is to find non-invasive ways to probe ancient and precious artifacts to understand their structural integrity and optimal restoration paths.
Although cultural heritage scientists already use an array of advanced scientific techniques, the data from these methods cannot yet be fully integrated to provide a comprehensive, multidimensional view of each artifact. Without a holistic view of structural integrity and design, decision-making about conservation remains complex and risk-laden.
This challenge is one that Alexandre Locquet, Georgia Tech-Europe professor and research scientist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Georgia Tech-Europe Professor David S. Citrin will address in an upcoming Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks research grant project, UNVEIL (Unified Nondestructive Evaluation of Historical Artifacts), as part of the IRL 2958 Georgia Tech-CNRS, a joint research partnership between Georgia Tech and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, where Locquet and Citrin lead the Terahertz NDE and nonlinear dynamics group.
As coordinator of UNVEIL, Locquet will head a consortium of 21 European organizations, whose diverse areas of expertise will combine to advance nondestructive evaluation methods for cultural heritage preservation. With a budget of 3.7 million euros, the project brings together partners such as the C2RMF, with its advanced techniques in cultural heritage science, and the IRL 2958 Georgia Tech-CNRS.
UNVEIL's goal is not only to integrate data across multiple techniques to understand cultural artifacts, but also to introduce advanced, engineering-grade methods (e.g., terahertz imaging, ultrasound, and infrared thermography) into cultural heritage science. This dual approach will provide new insights to guide conservation and restoration work, from uncovering an artist's first sketches, hidden inscriptions, and signatures to detecting structural weaknesses invisible to the naked eye.
The UNVEIL project will combine data from these non-invasive methods to create a 3D augmented-reality digital twin that shows an artifact's structural integrity and layers, revealing hidden elements, such as inscriptions and underdrawings. Collaborations with European museums and heritage institutions will bring these advances to the public, offering interactive 3D exhibits that allow visitors to explore artifacts beyond their visible surfaces.
Locquet’s research focuses on terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy for nondestructive evaluation. THz imaging has already demonstrated unique scientific advancements in examining cultural heritage objects, such as deciphering illegible inscriptions on an 18th-century funerary cross, reconstructing the stratigraphy of ancient paper stacks, and revealing hidden signatures and underdrawings beneath layers of paint. These results demonstrate the potential of THz imaging to uncover details inaccessible by other means. As coordinator of UNVEIL, Locquet's role extends well beyond research. He will guide the consortium as a whole and ensure the integration of all techniques into a unified approach for cultural heritage diagnostics and restoration.
The UNVEIL project will begin in March. Locquet and his team are currently seeking doctoral students in physics and electrical and computer engineering to join the multidisciplinary research team. Interested students are encouraged to send their CV and a letter of interest to alocquet@georgiatech-metz.fr and learn more about UNVEIL.
First-year undergraduate students studying at Georgia Tech-Europe in the First Year Semester Abroad (FYSA) program showcased their learning outcomes at a film festival on Dec. 2, in Metz, France. The event served as the culminating activity for the FYSA course, Communication and Culture, led by Jennifer Orth-Veillon, FYSA faculty director at Georgia Tech-Europe. The course offers a chronological, comprehensive exploration of European history and society through guided tours of key historical sites.
Orth-Veillon explains that the film project provides a framework for students to reflect on their intercultural communication experiences and make connections between places, cultural identities, and histories. The course is designed to foster adaptive skills and confidence in navigating uncertainty and unfamiliar situations in an international setting. For the first eight weeks, students participate in hands-on experiential learning about international travel. With guidance from Orth-Veillon, they plan trips, navigate public transit, and deal with unexpected travel challenges. Later, they use these skills during independent travel.
For Jayson Gonzalez, a student in the program, this marks his first experience traveling outside of the U.S. The experience has broadened his perspective and helped him move beyond cultural stereotypes and initial apprehensions about engaging with people in an unfamiliar culture. Tommy Vo, another first-year student, noted that the film project required him to “talk to people and understand their culture from their point of view.” He emphasized that this method is more effective for learning than simply reading about cultures in textbooks.
Both Gonzalez and Vo credit their experiences with helping them gain the self-confidence to live independently for the first time.
“I’m sustaining myself, and I’m enriching myself,” Gonzalez said.
Orth-Veillon views the FYSA program as often transformative for students. “They have a richer vision of the world and more confidence in their abilities to navigate cultural differences and ambiguity,” she said. According to research from the Forum on Education Abroad, 90% of education abroad alumni surveyed reported that their experiences helped them build job skills, including adaptability and intercultural communication, which significantly affected their overall career trajectory.
As the FYSA program comes to an end, Vo shared his mixed feelings about leaving Metz.
“I want to stay and continue experiencing all these things. But I also know there’s way more in the world to discover and explore,” he said. Gonzalez echoed the sentiment. “This world is so much bigger than any of us, any of our problems, and it is worth seeing,” he said. “The reason our degrees and careers are meaningful is that they contribute to this world. I don’t think any program could have shown me that better than this one. To experience all that while also furthering my academic enrichment has been the most rewarding thing.”
Orth-Veillon’s vision for the film festival project stems from her interest in sharing the transformative learning outcomes of cohort travel more broadly with the Georgia Tech community. Georgia Tech-Europe recently celebrated 35 years of operation and is hosting its fifth FYSA cohort. To learn more about Georgia Tech-Europe and the FYSA program, visit firstyearabroad.gatech.edu.