More ideas on how to structure a major university
On July1, two flagship projects from the University of Marseille were selected to be part of the new initiative under the Future Investment Program (PIA3) reserved for IdEx and ISITE initiatives. With an additional grant of 23 million euros, the University of Marseille continues on its path toward establishing a major research university with a strong focus on education.
UM2030 and UMGS (University of Montpellier Graduate School) are the names of the two projects successfully presented by UM to the international jury of the Investment for the Future Program (PIA3) as part of the“Major Research Universities”initiative. Many acronyms for two very concrete programs aimed at continuing and completing the transformation effort initiated by the University in 2017 and following the award of the ISITE label.
$12 million for research-based training
Immersing students in research laboratories starting in the first year of their master’s program and, eventually, as early as their bachelor’sprogram. This is the core mission of the new“University of Montpellier Graduate School”(UMGS), which will launch in the fall of 2021 in response to the“Structuring Education Through Research in Excellence Initiatives”(SFRI) call for proposals.
Over the course of the two-year master’s program, twelve months will be devoted to learning about research in laboratories or at UM’s partner companies.“Our goal is to strengthen the ties between master’s programs and research in our laboratories, in order to give our students the tools to seize the opportunities of tomorrow’s world,” explains François Pierrot, executive director of MUSE and vice president for innovation.
Nine master's degree programs
Students interested in this innovative program will initially have a choice of nine multidisciplinary master’s tracks taught entirely in English.“These UMGS-accredited tracks will be integrated into existing degree programs, while facilitating and expanding interdisciplinary connections. “An ecology student wishing to specialize in biodiversity conservation will be able to take law courses much more easily than is currently the case,” explains Agnès Mignot, project manager for “Supporting the university’s research-related projects.”
The funding secured will, among other things, help to better support the researchers partnering with this master’s program, fund doctoral students so they can play a key role in the program, and, of course, support the laboratories, as Agnès Mignot points out: “We’re going to ask them to take on many more students, whom we’ll need to compensate; this will account for a significant portion of our budget.”
$11 million for the "UM2030" integration project
In line with the development of MUSE, the UM2030 program is a response to the call for proposals known as IDéES for “ Integration and Development of IdEx and ISITE,” in which UM proposes large-scale initiatives addressing five major challenges. Gender equality through the“Beyond HRS4R” program, aimed at increasing the number of women in leadership positions in research centers or administrative departments. Sustainable development through“Green Initiatives”to raise awareness among staff and students about reducing their carbon footprint, as well as the“Data Science for All Sciences”program for a sustainable transformation of digital practices.
International appeal is also a top priority through the“Strategic International Partnerships”program. Its goal? To make UM a key player on the international stage in the three areas of Feeding, Healing, and Protecting. Finally, the“Innovation Campus”plan aims to strengthen the ties between the University and the local innovation ecosystem. According to François Pierrot,“this €11 million in funding will allow us to finalize the structuring of a major university, the hub of a higher educationand research partnership system rooted in its region and firmly committed to competing in the global knowledge economy.”
Continue our "collective efforts"
This total of 23 million euros is in addition to all the funding already allocated to the University by the PIA since 2011 (Labex, Equipex, ISITE, etc.). “We are currently awaiting the jury’s recommendations to finalize these two projects and obtain the jury’s final approval of the funding,” explains Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier. “These additional funds will help us continue our collective efforts to build, in Montpellier, this major research university centered on a strong and unique identity recognized worldwide.”