Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Cnam)

Mission Statement

Cnam-Enjmin (École nationale du jeu et des médias interactifs numériques) is France’s national school dedicated to video games and digital interactive media. Since its creation in 2001, it has been training students for the full spectrum of professions involved in video game development, including game design, programming, visual arts, production, audio design, and interactive experiences. The school is regularly recognized among France’s leading institutions for video game education.

Since 2005, Cnam-Enjmin has been part of the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Cnam), one of France’s oldest and most distinctive higher education and research institutions. Founded in 1794 and operating under the supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Cnam holds the status of a grand établissement, reflecting its unique position within the French higher education system.

Through a network of more than 200 educational centres in France and an international presence, Cnam fulfils its public mission by providing higher education, lifelong learning, research, and the dissemination of scientific and technical culture. By combining academic excellence with close connections to professional practice, Cnam supports learners at every stage of their careers and contributes to addressing contemporary economic, technological, and societal challenges.

As Cnam’s school dedicated to video games and digital interactive media, Cnam-Enjmin benefits from this rich academic environment while maintaining strong links with the creative and cultural industries, research laboratories, and international partners. The school offers specialised programmes that combine artistic, technological, and managerial approaches to the design and production of interactive digital experiences.
 

International Role

International Partnerships and Industry Engagement

Internationalisation and close collaboration with the digital creative industries are at the heart of Cnam-Enjmin’s strategic development. Through a strong global network of academic, research, and industry partners, the school strengthens educational excellence, promotes student and staff mobility, develops collaborative research initiatives, and contributes to the advancement of the video game and digital interactive media sectors.

Cnam-Enjmin maintains long-standing partnerships with leading universities, research centres, and organisations around the world.

Cologne Game Lab (TH Köln), Germany

Since 2016, Cnam-Enjmin and the Cologne Game Lab (CGL) at TH Köln have been linked through a strategic cooperation agreement in education, research, and the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge. This partnership has enabled the creation of a dual-degree pathway through which students can obtain both the Master’s Degree in Audiovisual, Digital Interactive Media and Video Games from Cnam-Enjmin and the M.A. Digital Games from Cologne Game Lab within a two-year curriculum.

Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico

Cnam-Enjmin has been an active partner in Confluencia Creativa (2019–2023), an international cooperation initiative led by GrandAngoulême and the Municipality of Zapopan with support from the French Development Agency (AFD). Focusing on the cultural and creative industries, the project contributed to the development of a joint Master’s Degree in Creative Media and Digital Arts within the School of Architecture, Art and Design of Tecnológico de Monterrey, in collaboration with the European School of Visual Arts (ÉESI) and the School of Animated Film Professions (ÉMCA).

The programme also facilitated knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship support, and professional exchanges between the creative ecosystems of Angoulême and Zapopan.

Building on this success, a second phase entitled Ensamble Creativo (2026–2029) is currently being implemented. Within this initiative, Cnam-Enjmin contributes to the development of an immersive virtual platform enabling students to showcase creative projects in virtual environments. The project also includes the creation of a three-year international artistic residency programme through which French and Mexican students collaborate on creative works addressing social and environmental challenges identified by the AFD and ECSI frameworks.

Universidad ORT Uruguay

Since 2019, Cnam-Enjmin and Universidad ORT Uruguay have maintained a cooperation agreement supporting international academic mobility. Through this partnership, students enrolled in ORT’s Animation and Video Games programmes undertake a semester of study at Cnam-Enjmin in Angoulême, benefiting from an international learning environment and cross-cultural exchange. This mobility programme has been renewed annually since its inception.

The Animation Workshop, VIA University College, Denmark

Cnam-Enjmin collaborates with The Animation Workshop (VIA University College) within the framework of AVENUE (Audiovisual Education and Training Network for European Vocational Excellence), a European initiative running from 2025 to 2029.

The project aims to strengthen excellence in vocational education and training across the European visual creation industries through the establishment of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in Animation, Video Games, Visual Effects (VFX), Visual Storytelling, and Extended Reality (XR).

Within the Video Games CoVE, Cnam-Enjmin works alongside industry and ecosystem partners including Ubisoft Paris, Magelis Creative Hub, and BoCAJ to foster innovation, sustainability, skills development, and industry-academia collaboration across the European creative sector.

National Role

Networks, Industry Engagement and Community

Cnam-Enjmin is actively engaged in national and international networks dedicated to higher education, research, and the video game industry. The school is a member of the Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA), the French Video Game Association (SNJV), and the Cumulus Association, strengthening its contribution to academic exchange and innovation in creative and digital education.

Since 2020, Cnam-Enjmin has welcomed students from École Polytechnique and contributes to the activities of the institution’s Science and Video Games Chair, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between scientific research and game creation.

At the regional level, Cnam-Enjmin is a founding component of the Magelis Creative Campus in Angoulême, a nationally and internationally recognised ecosystem dedicated to animation, visual arts, cinema, audiovisual production, and digital media. The school benefits from the support of Magelis Creative Hub, the public development agency that has played a key role in establishing Angoulême as a major centre for the cultural and creative industries.

Cnam-Enjmin is also supported by a strong network of public partners, including the City of Angoulême, GrandAngoulême, the Charente Departmental Council, and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region. The school maintains close relationships with leading companies in the video game industry and enjoys longstanding collaboration with Ubisoft, one of the world's leading video game publishers and developers.

Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Student projects developed within Cnam-Enjmin's programmes regularly receive recognition through nominations and awards at national and international competitions and festivals.

To encourage entrepreneurship and support the emergence of new independent studios, the school created all4GAMES, an incubation programme dedicated to innovative video game and digital interactive media projects. Through mentoring, professional guidance, and financial support, the programme helps young creators transform academic projects into sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.

As part of this initiative, Cnam-Enjmin launched the all4GAMES Competition, designed to reward ambitious and innovative projects developed by student and independent studios. The programme contributes to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem surrounding creative technologies and interactive media.

Events and Professional Outreach

Cnam-Enjmin actively participates in major international conferences, festivals, and professional events dedicated to games and interactive media, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and industry engagement.

The school also organises a range of events that bring together students, researchers, professionals, and creators, including:

• spawn!
• Enjmin Games Show (EGS)
• Enjmin Art & Games Workshop
• Smart Connected Objects Workshop
• Enjmin Game Conferences (EGC)
• Enjam (Enjmin Game Jam)

These events contribute to a vibrant learning environment and foster collaboration between academia, industry, and the wider creative community.

Educational Mission

Cnam-Enjmin’s programmes are designed to:

• Educate highly qualified artists, designers, engineers, project managers, and researchers in the fields of video games and digital interactive media.
• Support both fundamental and applied research through the exploration and development of interactive technologies and creative digital practices.
• Provide opportunities for professionals seeking to acquire new competencies or transition towards careers in the digital creative industries.
• Foster innovation, experimentation, and entrepreneurship through dedicated project-based learning and incubation initiatives such as all4GAMES.
   

Main Focus

Cnam-Enjmin shares the strong international outlook of its parent institution, Cnam, and is engaged in an extensive network of academic and research partnerships across Europe and around the world. Through collaborations with leading universities, schools, and research laboratories, the school fosters international exchange, innovation, and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Cnam-Enjmin offers both initial and continuing education programmes for students and professionals seeking to develop advanced expertise in video games, digital interactive media, and emerging creative technologies.