Choosing your degree program at UM
Every year, the University of Montpellier offers more than 500 institutional degrees. It's a rich and varied offering, but one that isn't always clear to the general public. So what is an institutional degree? Who is it for? In what fields and for what purpose? We'll tell you more with Céline Ritterszki, Deputy Director of Continuing Education at UM (SFC-UM).
University degrees, college degrees, institutional degrees, certifications... It's not always easy to navigate the multitude of educational opportunities offered by universities today. In addition to national degrees, such as bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, there is a whole range of degrees offered by the universities themselves. These are institutional degrees (DE), and there are more than 500 of them at the University of Montpellier.
Meet a specific need
The term "institutional degrees" encompasses university degrees (DU) and certifications. "Institutional degree is the generic name given to degrees approved by the University's Board of Directors, " explains Céline Ritterszki, Deputy Director of the Continuing Education Department (SFC-UM)."They are supported by the various departments with the backing of the Training and Teaching Department and the SFC."
Although these degrees do not have national accreditation, in the case of inter-university degrees (DIU), they can be awarded jointly by several institutions. In all cases, they offer significant and definite advantages. The originality and appeal of institutional degrees lies primarily in their ability to meet a specific identified need. "It may be a response to a demand from the business world, a specific regional need, or a need for specialization in a targeted field," explains the deputy director. DEs are the ideal setting for a skills-based approach.
A varied and updated selection
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montpellier offers no fewer than 194 institutional degrees. It is not the only department to offer this type of specialization. There are around 30 at the Faculty of Law and Political Science, ranging from cybercrime to coastal law. There are also around 30 in management, administration, and economics, around 20 in sports science, and others in chemistry, dentistry, pharmacy, and education. New DEs are created every year, "on the initiativeProfessors identify a need in the field or a department that wishes, for example, to train staff in a new legislative framework, as is the case with the new data protection regulations [ GDPR]."
Some university diplomas can also be cross-disciplinary and apply to all fields. The new university diploma inScientific Data Management is one example. Finally, the continuing education department also offers a few highly targeted programs, such as the university diploma in Aquaculture and Aquariology Technician and the university diploma in Aquaculture Project and Operations Manager. "This is a program that we have been offering for 39 years and of which we are very proud," says Céline Ritterszki. "These university diplomas are held at the Mediterranean Coastal Environment Station in Sète, in a sector that is at the heart of MUSE's challenges (Feeding, Protecting, Caring)."
Packages tailored to active audiences
Another key feature of DEs is their target audience. Accessible at different levels of study, they can be taken in addition to a traditional university course, but their primary audience is working people: employees, self-employed professionals, freelancers, job seekers, etc. who want to specialize, return to education, or change career paths. It is worth noting that the Continuing Education Department is an accredited training organization, which means that students can use their personal training account (CPF) to pay for their courses.
With this in mind, the institutional diplomas offered by the SFC are generally short courses organized according to a schedule adapted to working adults. "It is possible to attend classes one week per month or one day per week. Other diplomas focus on distance learning, such as the DU Club Management, which is delivered entirely through e-learning," concludes Céline Ritterszki. This allows for adaptation to all professional schedules and satisfies all desires, enabling everyone, with the University of Montpellier, to find the degree that suits them.