EPE: “Ensuring that the UM and its partners are firmly embedded in a shared strategy”
With 26 votes in favor, 4 against, and 5 abstentions, the Board of Trustees of the University of Montpellier adopted the bylaws of the experimental public institution that will take over from the current UM starting in January 2022. The continuation of the I-Site MUSE, the integration ofENSCM, an agreement withthe Institut d’Agro, collegiums, research clusters, and the strategic and structural investment committee—Philippe Augé, president of UM, discusses the challenges and expected changes.
On June 14, the University of Montpellier’s Board of Trustees voted to adopt the bylaws of the public experimental institution (EPE). What is the national context for this change in status?
This change in status is made possible by the ordinance of December 12, 2018, regarding the experimentation with new forms of collaboration, consolidation, or merger among higher education and research institutions. For the past two years, together with all our partners in the I-Site MUSE project, we have been working on a plan to create an integrated university as permitted by the ordinance. A roadmap, outlining the transition to EPE status, was adopted by the Board of Directors on July 11, 2019, and the recent vote thus formalizes this transition.
In a few months, an international jury will visit Montpellier to evaluate the I-Site MUSE. How can the evolution of our bylaws contribute to its long-term sustainability?
Obtaining the I-Site designation was one of the cornerstones of this evolution. Over the past five years, it has enabled us to implement numerous projects across various fields—including research, education, innovation, student life, and international initiatives—for our entire community, thanks to a budget of 84 million euros. We aim to secure its continuation by addressing, through this Experimental Public Institution (EPE) project, the expectations of the international jury tasked with evaluating it at the end of the year. Among these is the ambition to transition from a project centered on the UM and 15 partners to a university that integrates these 15 partners into its strategy and governance.
Why is the new institution described as “experimental”?
This status is provided for in the December 2018 ordinance, which sets out organizational arrangements allowing schools, organizations, and healthcare facilities to be brought together within a university, pending final confirmation of their intention to join forces by 2028 at the latest.
Will the University of Montpellier keep the same name?
Yes, absolutely. The project is being carried out under this name. Today, the University of Montpellier is well-known. The university’s identity is established, and we need to capitalize on this “brand,” which is recognized as such in all international rankings.
Let’s go into a bit more detail. This change in status notably allows for the integration of the École nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier as a constituent institution. What does this mean in practice?
On June 10, the ENSCM Board of Directors voted to integrate the school into the future EPE. In practice, this integration offers the school new opportunities, both in terms of education and research. It will retain its legal status and its decision-making and consultative bodies. The director of the constituent unit will be a permanent guest at the University’s various councils and committees. Similarly, the president of the UM will participate in the School’s Board of Directors and provide input on the appointment of the director, management dialogue, and the contract of objectives and commitments. This integration is a particular testament to the mutual trust that has been firmly established in recent years. It will therefore be a new component of the University but with a special status since, as I said, it will retain its legal personality. It should be added that while retaining its operational resources (staff, budgets, etc.), it develops its strategy in line with the UM and demonstrates strong commitments to integration, such as the signing of diplomas.
An agreement was also signed with the National Institute of Higher Education for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (Institut Agro). What does it entail?
An initial agreement with Montpellier SupAgro had already been signed in 2019, incorporating the elements requested by the I-Site jury, particularly regarding the endorsement of publications and the signing of diplomas for students enrolled at Montpellier SupAgro. It should be noted that Montpellier SupAgro is no longer a public institution, as it was when the Montpellier I-Site project was submitted. It has become an internal school of the Institut Agro and can therefore no longer join the UM as a constituent institution.
With regard to university governance, does this statutory change affect the election process and the role of the university president?
The conditions for electing the university president remain unchanged. The president’s responsibilities have been expanded to align with the new organizational structure, particularly in relation to the constituent units.
Three new statutory vice-presidencies are being created. Which ones, and what will their roles be?
Indeed, three new statutory vice-presidencies are being established: International Affairs; Partnerships and Innovation; and Social Responsibility and Campus Life. The goal here is to raise the profile of these areas, which are key strategic priorities found at most universities with an international reach.
Will the composition of the board of directors change?
In order to better integrate our partners, the composition of the board of directors will indeed be modified.
Members of our community will make up the vast majority (24 members instead of 28), ex officio members and external figures will number 12, instead of 8, including four business representatives as well as representatives from the Region and the City of Montpellier and partners such as CIRAD,INSERM,IRD, andINRAE, in addition to the CNRS and the Montpellier University Hospital, which previously held seats.
A new international advisory committee is being established—what is its purpose?
This international advisory committee will be formed to analyze the University of Marseille’s (UM) transformation and development strategy and to provide guidance on international matters. It will be composed of senior academic staff representing UM’s main international partners and representatives from the socio-economic sector who are already members of the MUSE Foundation. Committees of this kind already exist at many universities abroad.
Regarding research, the nine scientific departments are being replaced by five research clusters—is that correct?
Yes, each research unit will now be primarily affiliated with one cluster and, potentially, with another cluster on a secondary basis. These five clusters will have different missions: increasing our international visibility; coordinating responses to calls for proposals; strengthening the link between education and research… Each cluster will be organized around a cluster council and a strategic steering committee.
A Strategic and Structural Investment Committee (Comiss) has been established. What is its purpose?
This Comiss is composed of representatives from the various partners now united within the university foundation. Its mission will be to define and coordinate common objectives related to the implementation of initiatives stemming from the Future Investment Programs (PIA). It will also serve as a forum for making collective decisions with our partners regarding scientific and real estate investments, as well as recruitment policies on campus.
Regarding academic programs, eight colleges are being established, along with a graduate school. What will their roles be?
The colleges in no way undermine the authority of the academic departments, schools, and institutes, as these units are well-established and are the foundation of our reputation. They bring together the directors of the UFRs, Schools, and Institutes, from the constituent institution and Montpellier SupAgro. Their mission will be to facilitate synergies between the structures and to enhance the visibility and clarity of the overall educational offerings of the UM and its partners. They will also need to initiate the implementation of educational initiatives within the institution; a discipline can be approached from different angles within each entity: take the environment, for example, which involves biological, economic, technical, and regulatory aspects, and an exchange among all stakeholders in this field could be fruitful.
The graduate school, for its part, will help structure the transition between the master’s and doctoral levels, particularly with a view to strengthening our strengths by fostering interdisciplinarity, especially for research tracks.
Will the UFRs, Schools, and Institutes be affected by these changes?
The new structures have been designed to create spaces for dialogue with all of our partners—without creating a multi-layered decision-making process—by bringing cross-departmental added value and thereby contributing to the institution’s cohesion.
As I mentioned earlier, these changes in no way undermine the prerogatives of the UFRs, Schools, and Institutes, which remain the cornerstones of the University.
What changes can UM staff and students expect? Will tuition fees increase?
In line with our principles and values—which include public service, inclusion, and equity—this change in status will not disrupt the lives of our staff. Similarly, students will not be affected in terms of course selection, enrollment in a department, tuition fees, or the awarding of national degrees; however, they will, of course, be offered the new opportunities developed as part of the PIA programs.
It is clear that the stakes for the University are high. Was this statutory change therefore essential for the future of UM?
The challenge—beyond what might appear to some as mere institutional procedure—is indeed significant and goes beyond simply securing the long-term future of the I-Site MUSE. The goal is to firmly anchor UM and its partners in a shared strategy, at the campus level and under a common banner, in order to secure the resources needed to support our ambitions: to ensure that UM ranks among the best national universities and to strengthen its appeal and established reputation in international rankings. The EPE is also a means of uniting us to amplify our societal impact, from the local level to the international sphere. We believe in this ambition and strive for it so that the inexhaustible intelligence and formidable creativity of all our communities—staff and students alike—can be fully realized.