For more than 8 centuries, the University of Montpellier has been shaping the future!

[Article] - Published on September 14, 2019 under Faculties, Schools, and Institutes; Student Life

As a multidisciplinary, research-intensive university, the University of Montpellier brings together a vast community of scholars.

With more than 52,000 students spread across 17 faculties, schools, and institutes —plus its constituent institution, the ENSCM—the University of Montpellier offers a multidisciplinary range of programs: agriculture and food, law, political science, and public administration, economics and management, education, technology, engineering, health, and the sciences…
Working in close partnership with stakeholders in the socio-economic sector, the university provides lifelong learning opportunities and enables each student to freely shape their career path. In a world where the fields of application for knowledge are constantly evolving, studying at theUM offers everyone the opportunity to train for the jobs of tomorrow and enter the workforce.

In the field of research—from space exploration to robotics, ecology, and chronic or infectious diseases—the scientific community at the University of Montpellier is developing solutions for the future, serving humanity and the environment. This cutting-edge research is something the university strives to promote by forging close ties with industries based in the region, particularly in the biomedical and new technologies sectors. It is dynamic research, conducted in close collaboration with research organizations and supported by high-level technological platforms, to meet the needs of 21st-century society. High-performing research in France and internationally, where theUM ranks among the world’s best universities: in the top 200 of the Shanghai General Ranking, with a second-place global ranking in the field of ecology. It is also the top French university in Reuters’ rankingof the most innovative universities.

A major success for the entire scientific community in Montpellier, the University of Montpellier’s I-Site program of excellence serves as a powerful catalyst for the future of the entire campus and for its visibility on the national and international stage in the fields of health, the environment, and agronomy. Behind these themes lie three vital issues for the coming century, aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change; three challenges that lie at the heart of our university: feeding, healing, and protecting. To address these challenges, thousands of researchers have come together in the largest research project ever undertaken on campus.
And to take this even further—and to firmly anchor theUM and its partners within a shared strategy—the University became, as of January 1, 2022, an Experimental Public Institution (EPE) with new bylaws that allow project partners to be integrated into the University’s governance, notably including the ENSCM, which is now a constituent institution.

The University of Montpellier also boasts an exceptional real estate portfolio. Located in the heart of this Mediterranean metropolis, with more than 500,000 m², the various sites are all situated along the tram line and form a true network of campuses. This real estate portfolio is also a prestigious legacy. Indeed, the Faculty of Medicine, founded in 1220, was one of the first of its kind in the West, making it one of the oldest faculties still in operation today. Its Botanical Garden, a true gem for nature lovers and botany enthusiasts, is just one example among many. And while theUM is fully integrated into the city of Montpellier, it also has a presence in various cities throughout the region. It thus contributes to a comprehensive regional network in Occitanie, with a presence in Béziers, Carcassonne, Mende, Nîmes, Sète, and Perpignan. At each of its locations, it maintains close relationships with the various stakeholders in higher education and research throughout the region.

Above all, the University of Montpellier is a community of women and men comprising more than 5,000 staff members (faculty, researchers, and administrative staff) who work daily to ensure the successful fulfillment of its higher education and research missions with a strong sense of social responsibility. Determined to preserve its expertise—combining high-quality education with innovative and independent research—the University of Montpellier has, for example, committed to a high-quality recruitment policy by publishing its OTM-R charter in support of transparent hiring and, as early as 2015, obtained the European “HR Excellence in Research” certification. Because the University has a duty to be socially and environmentally responsible, it is also actively committed to combating gender inequality, discrimination based on disability, racism, anti-Semitism, and LGBT+ phobia. It also implements a proactive policy regarding quality of life at work, social, artistic, and cultural initiatives, and sustainable development—notably through a major investment program in the energy-efficient renovation of its building stock. Its efforts have been recognized by a significant rise in the 2024 edition of the Times Higher Education international rankings, where theUM ranks first among French institutions. Impact Rankings, which rank universities based on their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finally, in a society that is changing and becoming increasingly globalized, the University of Montpellier has successfully forged a unique identity, closely tied to major societal issues. Deeply committed to being a universal, humanistic university open to the world—one that is closely connected to the life of the city and engaged with the major challenges of our time—it can now rely on all the women and men who contribute every day to making it a center of excellence.

Keywords: Campus, Students, Training, High school students, University