International Exchange Day Focused on Sustainable Development

Reception for a delegation of South African academics visiting the University of Montpellier.
Montpellier National School of Chemistry, Mousseron Lecture Hall. By invitation only.

On Friday, July 1, the University of Montpellier will host a large delegation of South African university leaders (approximately 130 presidents and vice presidents). This visit is part of the South African Higher Education & Research Week in France, organized by South African authorities and institutions and Campus France from June 27 to July 1, 2022.

The University of Montpellier’s hosting of this delegation follows the New Africa-France Summit, organized by the Office of the President of the Republic in October 2021, and responds to the summit’s conclusions calling for the strengthening of Montpellier’s role as a hub and gateway between European and African academic communities.

This orientation day is organized in collaboration with the French Embassy in South Africa and the partners of the I-SITE Excellence Program led by the University of Marseille, including research organizations specifically involved in the partnership with South African universities (CNRS, IRD, CIRAD).

Following a presentation to the South African guests on the role of the I-Site in shaping the activities and programming of the Montpellier hub, there will be three roundtable discussions featuring South African and French colleagues. These three roundtables will address:

• the importance of the connections between challenges in agriculture and food, health, and the environment (Feed, Heal, Protect) for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;
• strengthening partnerships between South African and French universities;
• the connection with Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole and its Med-Vallée project, and the university’s role in regional development dynamics.

• Download the program