The University of Montpellier signs a five-year partnership agreement with the Institut Agro in Montpellier
On Monday, September 20, 2021, Philippe AUGÉ, President of UM, and Anne-Lucie WACK, Director General of Institut Agro (the National Institute of Higher Education for Agriculture, Food, and Environment) signed a partnership agreement to formalize the specific pre-existing relationships between the two institutions, demonstrating their shared desire to continue the momentum generated by the Montpellier University of Excellence (MUSE) project and to contribute to the development and influence of the University of Montpellier and its partners.
The University of Montpellier and Montpellier SupAgro have maintained close ties for many years in the areas of education and scientific policy. These collaborations were strengthened in 2017 with the certification of the I-SITE MUSE project, led by the University of Montpellier, with Montpellier SupAgro as one of its partners.
Since the creation of the Institut Agro on January 1, 2020, Montpellier SupAgro has become an internal school of this new national institution, which also includes Agrocampus Ouest in Rennes and Angers, and soon AgroSup Dijon.
An agreement to formalize the terms of collaboration
The main goal of the I-SITE MUSE project is to contribute to the emergence of a world-class university in Montpellier, bringing together the strengths of all partners and recognized in particular for its influence in three major areas: human health, the environment, and agriculture and food. This ambition requires action in all areas of university life—education, research, international relations, innovation, student life—but also the development of a new organizational structure for the university, one that is capable of integrating partners.
Following the signing of an initial agreement in November 2019, which foreshadowed this partnership, the present partnership agreement aims to formalize the terms of collaboration between the University of Montpellier and the Institut Agro through its internal school Montpellier SupAgro.
(from left to right): François PIERROT, Executive Director of I-Site MUSE – Anne-Lucie WACK, Managing Director of Institut Agro – Philippe AUGÉ, President of the University of Montpellier – Carole SINFORT, Director of Montpellier SupAgro – Sophie BÉJEAN, Rector of the Occitanie Academic Region
"I welcome this agreement between the University of Montpellier and Institut Agro on behalf of Montpellier SupAgro, now an internal school of Institut Agro, with whom we have been collaborating successfully for several years. This agreement formally reflects the relationship of trust that exists between our teaching and research teams. But it is also a strong guarantee of our shared desire to respond to the recommendations of the Idex-Isite international jury for the investment program for the future. Together, we share the ambition to enable the development and influence of the University of Montpellier."
Philippe AUGÉ, President of the University of Montpellier
"With this partnership agreement, we are intensifying and expanding our long-standing collaboration with the University in the fields of agriculture, food, and the environment. We are developing joint strategies for training, research, doctoral policy, as well as educational and digital transformation, student life, and links with business and the local community. Through our Montpellier school, we want to work together to tackle the major challenges of transforming professions and skills in the face of agricultural, food, and environmental transitions, and contribute to the attractiveness and international influence of this major scientific site in Montpellier, illuminated by its university beacon."
Anne-Lucie WACK, Managing Director of Institut Agro, and Carole SINFORT, Director of Montpellier SupAgro
Pooled skills
At the institutional level, the commitment of the institutions is reflected in cross-participation in the governing bodies of both institutions, as well as in their various fields of action.
The pooling of expertise will focus in particular on scientific policy, and collaboration will take place in joint Research units Research joint supervision and partner units, particularly within the "Agriculture-Environment-Biodiversity" research cluster.
Joint work within the doctoral college, the joint charter for signing scientific publications, and contributions to international rankings are other aspects of this fruitful agreement.
In terms of training policy, the relationship between Montpellier SupAgro and the University of Montpellier will mainly involve offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, with diplomas being co-signed.
They also intend to work together to develop synergy-building initiatives such as the Collegium “Agriculture & Food.”
Finally, both institutions aim to pool their expertise in student life, international relations, and human resources, and to implement joint initiatives in the administrative field.
Through the commitments made in applying the joint charter for scientific publications and co-signing degree certificates, the institutions are meeting the expectations of the I-SITE MUSE jury.