Continuity in Ideas for Structuring a Major University
On July1, two flagship projects fromUM selected to be part of the new initiative under the Investment for the Future Program (PIA3) reserved for IdEx and ISITE initiatives. With an additional grant of 23 million,UM its path toward establishing a major research university closely linked to education.
UM2030 and UMGS (University of Montpellier Graduate School) are the names of the two projects successfully presented byUM the international jury of the Investment for the Future Program (PIA3) as part of the“Major Research Universities”initiative. There are many acronyms for two very concrete programs that aim to continue and complete 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’s program. This is the core mission of the new“University of Montpellier Graduate School”(UMGS), which will launch at the start of the 2021 academic year in response to the call for proposals titled“Structuring Education Through Research in Initiatives of Excellence”(SFRI).
Over the course of the two-year master’s program, twelve months will be devoted to learning about research in laboratories or at theUM partner companies.“Our goal is to strengthen the ties between master’s-level programs and research in our laboratories, in order to give our students the tools they need 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 unique educational program will initially have a choice of nine multidisciplinary master’s tracks taught entirely in English.“These UMGS-accredited tracks will be part of existing degree programs, while facilitating and expanding interdisciplinary connections. “An ecology student who wishes 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, make it possible to better recognize the research partners involved in this master’s program, fund doctoral students so they can play an important 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 whichUM 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 to drive a sustainable transformation of digital practices.
International appeal is also a top priority through the“Strategic International Partnerships”program. Its goal? To makeUM key player on the international stage in the three areas of Feeding, Healing, and Protecting. Finally, the“Innovation Campus”plan aims to strengthen the link between the University and the local innovation ecosystem. According to François Pierrot,“This 11-million funding will allow us to finalize the structure of a major university—the cornerstone of a highereducation and research partnership system rooted in its region and firmly committed to competing in the global knowledge economy.”
Continue our“collectiveefforts”
This total of 23 million is therefore 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, here in Montpellier, this major research university centered on a strong and unique identity recognized worldwide.”