Continuing Education for Technology Transfer : Time matters.

Abstract : The aim of this article is to identify and analyse the potential influence of national cultures on the implementation of Continuing Engineering Education training courses, within the context of industrial technology transfer from the perspective of the transferors.Using the example of a Franco-Brazilian programme, which we were commissioned to analyse, our main focus will be to explore how the cultural dimension of time can have an impact on a training course with complex technological contents and high added value. Drawing on Trompenaars' notion of "cultural dilemmas" and that of Demorgon's "adaptive antagonisms", our methodology is based on the analysis of in-depth interviews with French experts training Brazilian engineers. The purpose of the present study is to identify the most pertinent profile for international trainers with intercultural competences which combine technological expertise, a broad vision of the industrial and cultural context and strategic planning and vision.