UM renews its contracts of objectives and resources (COM) with its UFRs, schools and institutes
In 2025, the University of Montpellier has chosen to roll out its contracts of objectives and resources with each of its 16 UFRs, schools and institutes (UEI). Already tried and tested in the past, this ambitious approach has now been confirmed, in line with the University's determination to strengthen its cohesion while respecting the autonomy and specific characteristics of its various components.
As part of the 2021-2026 multi-year contract signed with the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the University of Montpellier has made the development of COMs a driving force behind its modernization and the consolidation of its management systems. Through these COMs, the institution has sought to develop a high-performance management system aimed at aligning the strategy of its components with that of the University, while at the same time making the most of their specific features in line with the principle of subsidiarity. The COMs are a vehicle for dialogue between the management team and the UEIs, and also enable the dissemination of data and information characterizing each component.
These contracts are divided into four sections. The first, dedicated to characterization, offers a detailed portrait of each component in terms of activity (student numbers, training offer, success, professional integration, etc.) and resources (human resources, budget, assets, etc.).
The second part deals with the strategy of each UEI, highlighting the contribution of the structure to the policy of the establishment, but also the specificities and assets of each of the structures.
Through the monitoring of key indicators taken from the company's framework documents, the performance section enables us to evaluate our strategy.
Conceived in coordination with central services, these 3 sections converge on a fourth section concerning financial support for specific projects. With a budget of €1.8 million over 3 years, financed from the establishment's own budget, these COMs will enable concrete actions to be carried out over the coming years. As of 2025, some thirty projects have been granted dedicated funding in the fields of training and student life, as well as ecological transition, corporate social responsibility and internationalization.
For Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, this internal contractualization reflects a clear ambition: to consolidate a modern and concerted mode of governance: "These contracts are a valuable tool for dialogue and steering. They enable us to combine autonomy and cohesion, to support our components in their projects, and to work together to strengthen the attractiveness and performance of the University of Montpellier.