Annual Conference of the Association of Chief Administrative Officers of Higher Education Institutions

On July 3 and 4, the University of Montpellier will host the annual conference of the Association of General Directors of Public Higher Education Institutions on the theme: “AI and Higher Education: Building Trust and Developing Solutions for Responsible Use.”

This conference will explore the ethical and strategic issues, the potential for transforming institutional missions, and the practical applications of AI in higher education institutions. Organized around three roundtable discussions and workshops, it will facilitate numerous exchanges and networking opportunities with speakers from diverse backgrounds and help establish a comprehensive roadmap for ethical and responsible AI.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Wednesday, July 2, 2025
WELCOME COCKTAIL RECEPTION

• Starting at 7:30 p.m. – Welcome cocktail reception at the Fabre Museum

In Montpellier, the arts, sciences, and culture come together to create places of art and history that are surprisingly rich. A visit to the Fabre Museum is thus part of a series of activities and tours for those who are curious and passionate about the visual arts and cultural heritage. [39 bd Bonne Nouvelle, Montpellier · museefabre.fr]

Thursday, July 3, 2025
STRATEGY, CHALLENGES, AND FEEDBACK

• 9:00–10:30 a.m. – Welcome, opening remarks & general introduction

WELCOME REMARKS
Philippe Augé (President of the University of Montpellier)
Olivier Ginez (Director General of Higher Education and Professional Integration, DGESIP),
Emmanuel Duflos (President of the Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools (CDEFI)),
and the representative of the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DGRI).

General Introduction: The Impact of AI on the Transformation of Higher Education Institutions
, Pierre Noro (Sciences Po Paris)
, Ioana Galleron (VP CFVU Sorbonne Nouvelle)

• 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – Roundtable 1

AI AND GOVERNANCE
Topics covered: Ethical, strategic, and legal issues: What framework should be adopted?
Moderator: Frédéric Desprès (Chief Operating Officer, UTC)
Keynote speaker: Bruno Sportisse (INRIA)
Participants: Anne Laurent (University of Montpellier), Arnaud Latil ( Sorbonne University), Olivier Wong (President of the VP-Num Association)

• 2:00–4:00 p.m. – Thematic Workshops

Three thematic workshops will be organized. They will provide an opportunity to present and discuss specific cases—whether existing applications or pilot projects—in areas related to support functions as well as core missions in education and research. The topics covered will focus on a variety of applications: HR, public procurement, legal support, real estate, project support, student life, resource sharing, pedagogy, and research.
Topics ranging from public procurement policy in the Île-de-France region to the use of IAG at the Lyon Academy for HR management and at Jules Verne University; the policy for supporting research projects in Rennes; preparation for civil service exams and ECOS medical exams in Montpellier; and other scenarios will be discussed.

Moderators: Pierre Beust (SUPTICE Rennes), David Cassagne (University of Montpellier), Michel Verhaegen (Vice President of the Association of HR Directors in Higher Education, Director of Human Resources at the University of Picardie Jules Verne – UPJV).

List of workshop topics
Training, competitive exam prep: Xavier Bailly (CRC Montpellier)
Training, ECOS prep: Kevin Yauy (University of Montpellier)
Procurement policy: Jérémy BAKKALIAN (Île-de-France Region)
HR management: Jérôme Blondon (Lyon Academy)
Support for Calls for Proposals: Nathalie Hauchard-Seguin (University of Rennes)
Legal Assistance: Jean-Michel Miel (JuriSup)
Energy Optimization: Bruno Nivard (Centrale Supelec)
Student Life POC: Pascal Pérotin (AMUE)
Academic Affairs Chatbot: Emmanuelle Hautin (University of Strasbourg, A-DSI)
Pedagogy and Student Life: Sébastien Sigiscar (Gustave-Eiffel University)
Research and AI: Nabil Hathout (Toulouse Jean-Jaurès University)
Personal Assistant: Aurélia Carré de Lusançay (UVSQ)
Implementation of shared resources on a single site: Odile Jankowiak-Gratton (Toulouse COMUE)

• 4:30–5:30 p.m. – Workshop presentations

• 5:30 p.m. – ADGS General Assembly

• 7:30 p.m. – Gala dinner at the Hôtel des Collections at MO.CO Montpellier Contemporain

Friday, July 4, 2025
Strategic Outlook

• 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. · Panel Discussion 2

Topics Covered: Is AI a major driver of transformation for institutions, or just another issue for CIOs?

Moderator: Florence Housset, Chief Administrative Officer, Sorbonne University
Keynote speaker: François Taddéi (Learning Planet Institute)
Participants: Renaud Monnet (Digital Lab Centrale Supélec), Emmanuelle Hautin (President, A-DSI), Pierre Jannin (Signal and Image Processing Laboratory, Inserm UMR 1099 – University of Rennes), Emilie-Pauline Gallié (IGESR).

• 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. · Roundtable 3

Development of a Comprehensive Roadmap
Moderator: Irène Gazel, Executive Director of Services at Comue de Lyon

Presentation of Corporate and Institutional Strategies: Methodological Considerations
Didier Raboud (University of Geneva),
David Cassagne (Vice President for Digital at the University of Montpellier),
Nadia Jacoby (Founder of “Simone et les Robots” and Vice President of Edtech France).

Implementation of resource-sharing initiatives within a cooperative framework: AMUE, Ragarennes, and the Mistral Project
, Simon Larger (AMUE),
, and Olivier Wong (Vice President for Digital Affairs at the University of Rennes, Ragarennes, and the Mistral Project).

• 12:30–1:00 p.m. · Conclusion and Next Steps

Closing Remarks
. Yann Fergusson (Scientific Director of LaborIA)

• 2:30–4:30 p.m. · Guided tour of Montpellier's historic district

Relive Montpellier’s remarkable rise and the exceptional destiny it has forged over the centuries. A thousand-year journey through the narrow streets of the historic center, allowing you to experience the unique atmosphere of the Écusson district. The tour includes a visit to the triumphal arch or the mikveh (a medieval Jewish ritual bath) and the courtyard of a private mansion.

Practical Information

Please confirm your attendance by registering here (for ADGS members only):

Contacts

For any practical questions:email

If you have any questions about the event's accessibility, please contact the Handiversité department by email

RATES AND REGISTRATION FEES

Price: 500€ (excl. tax) / 550€ (incl. tax)

The registration fee includes:

• participation in the symposium program;
• lunches and coffee breaks on July 3 and 4;
• the welcome cocktail party on July 2 (Musée Fabre);
• the dinner reception on July 3 (MO.CO's Hôtel des Collections);
• A guided tour of Montpellier's historic district.

Online payment by credit card and bank transfer

Accommodations / LOCATIONS

Accommodations

Because of festivals and scientific conferences taking place during the same period, we recommend that you book your stays as soon as possible. Our staff has checked the availability of rooms at each of these establishments for those dates.

Download the list of hotels – PDF 880 KBDownload

Locations

The conference is being held at the Institute of Botany at the University of Montpellier, located at 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet in downtown Montpellier. The site is accessible via tram lines 1 (Albert 1er – Saint-Charles stop) and 4 (Albert 1er – Cathédrale stop) from the Montpellier Saint-Roch train station.

The July welcome cocktail party will be held at the Musée Fabre, located at 39 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, just a few steps from Place de la Comédie.

The gala dinner will take place at the Hôtel des Collections at MO.CO (Montpellier Contemporain), located at 13 rue de la République, near the Montpellier Saint-Roch train station.