Africa, one of our priorities
Among the major events of 2021, Montpellier’s hosting of the New Africa-France Summit on October 8 presents a unique opportunity for the University of Montpellier and its partners in the I-SITE MUSE (Montpellier University of Excellence) project. It will be an opportunity to demonstrate why and how Montpellier’s ecosystem of higher education, research, and innovation serves as a true bridge between the African and European continents.
And it is through four days of scientific sessions, organized in the lead-up to the Summit, that the University of Montpellier and its partners have chosen to highlight the strong and concrete partnership between the African and Montpellier academic communities. The Montpellier Global Days will take place from October 4 to 7, 2021, both in person and online, and will welcome researchers, faculty members, and Professors experts from France and across Africa for the occasion. This is a highly anticipated highlight for researchers and faculty in Montpellier and their African partners, who see it as recognition of their commitment.
Long-standing and strong ties between Montpellier and Africa
The University of Montpellier and its partners in the I-SITE Montpellier University of Excellence (MUSE) have made Africa a priority in their international efforts. This is not a recent development, as the University has maintained a long-standing network of partnerships and exchanges with the Mediterranean region and, more broadly, with Africa as a whole. Today, this is due in particular to the presence in Montpellier—alongside the university—of French and international research and educational institutions that are specifically focused on partnerships with the southern Mediterranean (CIRAD, IRD, CGIAR, CIHEAM). While these ties are strong and long-standing, they are now reflected in numerous collaborations in research, innovation, and training, as well as a wide variety of academic activities designed to address challenges related to the environment, food, and health. In the area of education, for example, the Montpellier campus hosts an average of 5,000 African students each year, including 400 doctoral researchers. These are young, forward-thinking researchers who are determined to carry this collective momentum forward on the African continent.
Montpellier, a true gateway between Europe and Africa
To nurture, support, and protect, the entire academic and scientific ecosystem in Montpellier has rallied to support and promote the capabilities of African institutional actors in research, higher education, vocational training, and innovation, in collaboration with international institutions. “The University of Montpellier and its partners at I-SITE MUSE are now recognized as major players in strengthening ties between African, French, and European academic communities,”says Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier .He adds: “Montpellier has successfully positioned itself to support the development, alongside our African partners, of a collective vision for the world of tomorrow.”
A collaborative dynamic developed within the I-SITE MUSE project and led by the University of Montpellier, ranked among the top 200 universities worldwide, has mobilized the Professors 6,000 researchers and Professors to address, in particular, three major and interrelated challenges of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change: Feed – Heal – Protect. These major global challenges also align with the goal of building an internationally recognized university, leading François Pierrot, Executive Director of I-SITE MUSE, to state that“Hosting the New Africa-France Summit in Montpellier represents a form of recognition for the University of Montpellier and its partners, who have established themselves as key players between the two continents in the fields of higher education, research, and innovation.”
"Montpellier Global Days for Science, Education & Innovation: Africa 2021!"
“Montpellier Global Days” is a four-day event dedicated to higher education, training, research, and innovation that will highlight our partners and the richness of our scientific and academic collaborations. Experts, researchers, and project leaders will share their work, insights, and commitments across six themes: International Health – One Health, Agroecology, Biodiversity, Water, Food Systems, and Technologies for Nourishing, Healing, and Protecting during parallel sessions on the first two days. The following two days will then focus on cross-cutting and forward-looking discussions, with a specific emphasis on strengthening partnerships and building expertise and foresight to address the challenges addressed by the MUSE project—from the perspectives of science, innovation, and the economy. “These sessions will certainly showcase our work related to the African continent, but above all, they will provide an opportunity for dialogue and collaborative development as we look toward the future,”summarizes Patrick Caron,UM Vice President for International Relations.