ESNbyUM: Moving into the second phase of the project
The University of Montpellier’s School of Digital Health (ESNbyUM) and its partners have reached a new milestone with a favorable recommendation from the ANR for the mid-term evaluation, which paves the way for the disbursement of the second installment of its funding under the France 2030 initiative. This decision allows for the full launch of the project’s second deployment phase, which officially began on January 1, 2023, following its selection as the winner of the “Skills and Professions of the Future” call for expressions of interest.
Founded in 2023, ESNbyUM is led by Professor Maurice Hayot, the driving force behind this initiative, which is part of the national “Digital Health” acceleration strategy and represents the first structured project of this scale in France to cover the full range of digital health competencies. The school, supported by the University of Montpellier’s Department of Structuring Programs, is based on a regional consortium comprising 12 university departments, 3 healthcare institutions, 4 training institutes, 3 companies, 2 engineering schools, as well as local authorities and institutional stakeholders.
A second deadline approved by France 2030
The school has received approval for the second installment of funding, amounting to 50% of the initial budget allocated, out of a total budget of 4,043,200 euros. This is not new funding, but rather the second installment provided for under the France 2030 program, which was contracted with the ANR on October 31, 2022, for a five-year term ending in December 2027.
This approval, granted following a mid-project report and a hearing with consortium members, comes at a time when the project’s rollout is already well underway and reinforces the momentum that has been building since its launch. It also marks an important step toward ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability beyond the period covered by France 2030.
A cornerstone of current and future training programs
The second phase of the project centers primarily on the ESNbyUM Digital Campus, set to launch in October 2025. Designed as a cornerstone of current and future programs, it offers an immersive 3D portal inspired by iconic locations in Montpellier, structured around five areas dedicated to orientation, school news and digital health updates, training and resources (Moodle LMS), as well as an alumni space designed to foster interaction among graduates.
This phase also includes the finalization and rollout of training programs for healthcare and medical-social professionals, which are already underway at 36 training institutions in Eastern Occitanie. It supports the development of training programs for digital specialists, legal professionals, senior executives, and regulatory affairs specialists in the field of digital medical devices, as well as the expansion of courses in artificial intelligence applied to healthcare and thematic micro-certifications.
This approach is part of a precision-based educational model known as “6P”—Personalized, Preventive, Predictive, Participatory, Evidence-based, and Practice-centered—which is one of the hallmarks of ESNbyUM.
A national initiative to address the challenges of transformation
Digital health is profoundly transforming professional practices, healthcare organizations, and the patient journey. ESNbyUM addresses this challenge with a structured program of 26 training tracks, covering undergraduate, graduate, and work-study programs, from the bachelor’s degree level to the specialized master’s degree.
Initial results show consistent progress among learners and a satisfaction rate of approximately 80% for the e-learning program, which can thus use this feedback to drive continuous improvement. The school is also part of a national initiative, offering a national university diploma in telemedicine, telehealth, and digital health, and participates in numerous events and knowledge-sharing sessions related to France 2030.
With the release of the second tranche of its funding, ESNbyUM is consolidating its expansion and pursuing its goal of establishing digital health as a cross-disciplinary scientific field on a sustainable basis, supporting education, research, innovation, and healthcare delivery.