The University of Montpellier and the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier sign their first multi-year contract setting out objectives and commitments
The change in status of the University of Montpellier, which became an experimental public institution, enabled the National School of Chemistry of Montpellier (ENSCM) to be integrated as a component institution of the university. The first major step was the signing of a multi-year contract setting out objectives and commitments.
Following approval by the Montpellier University Board of Directors, Philippe Augé, President of Montpellier University, and Pascal Dumy, Director of ENSCM, signed their first multi-year contract setting out objectives and commitments, formalizing their mutual goals of convergence and pooling resources to support the rollout of Montpellier University's ambitious strategy.
ENSCM is now a new component of the University of Montpellier, with a special status since it retains its legal personality, its deliberative bodies, and its means of action (staff, budgets, etc.). One of the key commitments to integration is the joint signing of diplomas. This integration, which reflects the mutual trust that has been established between the school and the university in recent years, offers new opportunities for training, research, staff, and students, while contributing to the UM's development and influence strategy.
"The challenge behind what may appear to some as institutional mechanics is indeed significant and is not limited to a commitment made within the framework of our I-Site MUSE. It is about establishing the UM and ENSCM in a shared strategy, at the site level and under a common banner, in order to obtain the resources needed to support our ambitions: to make the UM one of the best national universities and to reinforce its attractiveness and proven reputation in international rankings," says Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier.
The multi-year contract of objectives and commitments between the university and its constituent institution, as provided for in the EPE's statutes, is part of a shared ambition to respond to the dual challenge of regional anchoring and excellence required for international visibility, while also ensuring a key role for the chemistry sector under the "Université de Montpellier" in the fields of education, research, and innovation.
"This contract is the score that sets our duties and rights to music, allowing the conductor to implement the shared strategy in order to achieve our common goals and ambitions," explains Pascal Dumy, Director of ENSCM.
Focusing on three main areas: research and promotion; training, student life, and social responsibility; institutional life and administrative modernization, the contract sets the following strategic objectives:
- increase scientific potential;
- promote the joint brand "University of Montpellier" internationally;
- offer an attractive, coherent, and enriched training program, including at the interfaces with other disciplines;
- promote greater national and international visibility in the field of chemistry and its interfaces;
- contribute to the development and promotion of engineering programs at the University of Montpellier;
- promote social responsibility for all users and staff.
About the University of Montpellier
With its 17 faculties, schools, and institutes and 72 research facilities, the University of Montpellier brings together a vast community of knowledge: science, technology, physical education and sports, medicine, pharmacy, law, political science, economics, and management. With more than 50,000 students and 5,100 staff members, the University of Montpellier is now one of the largest universities in France.
The UM is internationally recognized for the excellence of its teaching, research, and innovation in a wide range of scientific fields related to major societal challenges, foremost among which are food security, environmental protection, and human health. It occupies a leading position in international rankings, placing on the global podium in ecology in the Shanghai thematic ranking, in the top 200 of the Shanghai general ranking, and as the most innovative French university in the Reuters ranking.
As a responsible university, UM is particularly committed to issues of gender equality and the fight against all forms of discrimination, environmental issues, scientific integrity, and science-society relations.
About ENSCM
The Montpellier National School of Chemistry is a public school offering high-level general chemical engineering courses leading to a chemical engineering degree in three years (from Bac+2 to Bac+5). This initial training is open to students from different backgrounds through traditional channels as well as through work-study programs. The ENSCM has 360 engineering students (120 graduates per year).
It is a program of excellence that brings its students to the highest scientific level and equips them with a comprehensive set of sought-after complementary skills, such as a sense of innovation, team spirit, and collective intelligence.
It oversees four joint research units in chemistry, alongside the University of Montpellier, the CNRS, and the CEA for one of them. Covering all disciplines of chemical sciences, it is the leading French university internationally recognized in chemistry.
It is also ISO 9001 certified for all of its training, research, and promotion activities. It is committed to a Corporate Social Responsibility approach aimed at achieving sustainable development.