Meet the engineer who bridges technology and education

Most of us don’t determine our life’s work at seven years old. But for Xavier Fouger, a trip to Paris to visit his grandparents at that age charted the course of the next nearly four decades of his life.

“We were walking near Dassault Aviation by my grandparents’ house. Everyone associated with the company was kind, and it held an excellent reputation,” Fouger recalls. “As we passed by, my grandfather lifted me over the wall to see the full extent of the operation where all the engineers were working. After setting me down, he looked at me and said, ‘You should work here one day.’”

That moment, combined with what he describes as the “social push in France” to pursue engineering if you excelled in mathematics, set him on a clear path to fulfilling his grandfather’s wish—but with a spin that was completely his own.

Fouger didn’t join Dassault Aviation. He did join Dassault Systèmes in 1990, which spun out of the leading French aerospace company with the mission of becoming the industry benchmark in computer-aided design. Though he began his career in engineering as his grandfather hoped, he went a step further and branched into education, becoming an “educational engineer,” as he calls himself. Fouger currently serves as Senior Director of Global Academia Programs, where he builds programs, solutions and communities that will equip the next generation with the skills needed to excel in engineering.

Fouger’s evolution from engineer to educational engineer has given him a front-row seat to the changing nature of education.

“We’ve moved from an era where professors were the primary sources of knowledge to a time when they serve more as facilitators for students who now access multiple learning channels,” he said. “Not only has their role changed, but the decreasing attention spans of modern learners have driven changes in educational strategies. We’re in a time where more dynamic and interactive teaching methods are required.”

Fouger is at the forefront of innovation in training methodologies, adapting them to meet the needs of today’s world. And if his impressive 35-year career represents anything, it’s the true power of adaptability—and in many ways, it highlights Dassault Systèmes’ adaptable nature and resilience, too.

The key to longevity: Adaptability

The past 35 years have witnessed significant changes—from the rise of the internet and advancements in mobile technology to the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the evolution of learning methodologies that have helped the world adapt to these shifts. His long tenure at the company doesn’t just mean he’s observed firsthand the societal and technological changes affecting industries; he’s also seen how teams at Dassault Systèmes transformed themselves to adapt to those changes.

In the early days at Dassault Systèmes, Fouger focused on sales and customer relations within the automotive sector, helping to pioneer innovation in automotive design and manufacturing models. At that time, Dassault Systèmes was primarily a business-facing company rather than a customer-facing company, with a focus on third-party sales. “We rarely saw customers because most of them were indirect. It was an entirely different way of working than what we do now,” said Fouger.

As the years passed and Dassault Systèmes needed to adapt to changing needs, Dassault Systèmes’ distribution model underwent a significant transformation, breaking away from its third-party sales focus.

“For so many years we had established customers, partly due to our relationship with third parties,” noted Fouger. “But as times changed, we found ourselves needing to directly engage with new customers spanning different sectors. It was a major shift.”

Fouger described it as an “evolution for the company” because of all the plans and processes that needed to be put in place. “We needed to create a marketing department, we needed to create a sales department. We quickly realized that dealing with larger customers required us to sell value, not just ship a finished product in a box. We had to build long-term relationships,” said Fouger.

And that type of selling required a new skill set. Recognizing a skills gap among his colleagues, who were unfamiliar with the intricacies of the customer bases they were now directly engaging with, Fouger took the initiative to develop training programs. He started with training focused on the automotive industry, then expanded to other industries. Eventually, Fouger spearheaded collaborations with educational institutions, a key sector that can help close the skills gap early. Over time, this gradually became his full-time role.

Problem-based learning becomes the north star

As his involvement with universities deepened, his career shifted toward learning and development, where he has become a force in the education and training field. This led to a pivotal moment in his career: launching the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence (CoE) in October of 2021.

The CoEs are a global network of educational facilities designed to enhance employability and innovation by providing training on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as well as opportunities to use it within specific business situations. CoEs provide students and professionals with the practical skills needed to adapt to the rapid pace of digital and sustainability transformations while building awareness about the new skills and processes required of the industry. Currently, there are 23 participating organizations across the globe, and they work jointly with employers to stay current about required skills and new methods and processes to succeed in the real world.

For Fouger, perhaps the biggest shift in learning today is the importance of contextualizing learning: it can’t be done in siloes, and it shouldn’t be done alone. This is the model on which the CoEs are based.

“For engineers, it’s not only about solving technical problems with their knowledge but also about applying this knowledge within the context of the challenges they face,” he said. “About a decade ago, I became a strong advocate for a teaching method known as problem-based learning.”

Problem-based learning is a student-centered approach where students collaboratively solve open-ended problems, fostering practical engagement and critical thinking. This type of training emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork.  As he notes, “It is important that individuals know how to use Dassault Systèmes software, but it is equally important to encourage collaboration between disciplines and teams. Collaboration is key.”

Not only does problem-based learning require collaboration, but it also helps develop leadership roles, improves critical thinking and analysis, and creates more innovative and dynamic thinkers. Aside from problem-based learning, Fouger also notes the transformative potential of AI in learning. AI’s role in enhancing decision-making at all levels is significant, although from Fouger’s point of view, full integration is still off on the horizon.

“I believe we will see a time where more and more people are empowered to make decisions based on a broader context, in part due to AI—and that will be a crucial shift,” he says. Fouger understands that learning methodologies will continue to evolve with new technologies and practices. “When it comes to AI, above all, educators will need to become providers of more authentic wisdom rather than procedural knowledge.” He is prepared to remain flexible and embrace these changes to keep pushing educational boundaries.

Seeing success in the next generation

Fouger’s career is impressive—spanning decades, he has remained at the forefront of innovation and methodologies needed to equip the next generation of engineers. However, it’s not his own success he would rave about if you asked him. Instead, he’d boast about seeing the students he’s interacted with over the years become successful in their own right.

“Back in 2005, I developed a learning program funded by the French government aimed at high school students,” recalls Fouger. “One of those students graduated and now works at Dassault Systèmes. It’s really fulfilling to see him succeed.”

Fouger can give countless examples of the success of his students and fellow educators. He recalls one CoE educator who wanted to take a different path from education and now works at Dassault Systèmes on the industry side. Fouger is just happy to see his people fulfilled in their careers, no matter what paths they take.

What the future holds

Fouger’s efforts in education have continued to expand, encompassing a broader range of participants and skill levels—from high schools and middle schools to vocational schools and continuing education for working professionals across the globe. He understands that adaptability is key, and he has big dreams for continuing to evolve the CoEs for the better. His vision is that one day, the CoEs will operate similarly to Apple stores, where the public can come in and explore Dassault Systèmes’ solutions and tools. He acknowledges that this goal is likely years away but notes that CoEs currently have showrooms that serve a similar purpose.

His long-term vision is focused on creating a large ecosystem involving policymakers, citizens and other stakeholders to foster a collaborative learning environment. He wants to break down silos and transform workers into strategic problem solvers. 

Just as his grandfather once lifted him up to see the operations of Dassault Aviation in Paris, Fouger has lifted up those around him—with his vision and work building a future where learning and innovation break traditional boundaries and create a new generation of empowered individuals.

Fouger isn’t the only one helping reshape the engineering industry. Check out some of the other humans driving progress.