The University of Montpellier signs a 5-year association agreement with the Institut Agro in Montpellier
On Monday, September 20, 2021, Philippe AUGÉ, President of the UM, and Anne-Lucie WACK, Director General of the Institut Agro (the French national institute of higher education for agriculture, food and the environment), signed an association agreement to formalize the specific pre-existing relationship between the two establishments, demonstrating their shared desire to continue the dynamic begun within the Montpellier Université d'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 enjoyed close relations for many years in terms of training and scientific policy. These collaborations were strengthened in 2017 with the accreditation of the MUSE I-SITE project, led by the University of Montpellier and in which Montpellier SupAgro is one of the partners.
With the creation of the Institut Agro on January 1, 2020, Montpellier SupAgro became an internal school of this new national establishment, which also includes Agrocampus Ouest in Rennes and Angers, and soon AgroSup Dijon.
An agreement to formalize the terms of collaboration
The main ambition of the MUSE I-SITE project is to contribute to the emergence of a world-class university in Montpellier, bringing together the strengths of all its partners, and recognized in particular for its influence on three major issues - human health, the environment, agriculture and food. This ambition calls for action in all areas of university life - education, research, international relations, innovation, student life - as well as the development of a new organization for the university, one that is capable of integrating partners.
Following the signature of an initial agreement in November 2019, prefiguring this association, the present association agreement aims to formalize the terms of collaboration between the University of Montpellier and the Institut Agro through its in-house school Montpellier SupAgro.
"I am delighted with this agreement between the University of Montpellier and the Institut Agro on behalf of Montpellier SupAgro, which has now become an internal school of the Institut Agro, and with which we have been collaborating successfully for several years. This agreement is a formal expression of the relationship of trust that exists between our teaching and research teams. But it is also a strong testimony to our shared determination to meet the recommendations of the international Idex-Isite jury of the future investment program. 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 association agreement, we are intensifying and extending our long-standing collaboration with the University in the field of agriculture, food and the environment. We are developing joint strategies for training, research and doctoral policy, as well as educational and digital transformations, student life, links with business and the region... Through our Montpellier school, we want to work together to meet 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 lighthouse."
Anne-Lucie WACK, Managing Director of Institut Agro and Carole SINFORT, Director of Montpellier SupAgro
Pooling skills
From an institutional point of view, the establishments' commitment is reflected in cross-participation in the bodies of the two establishments, as well as in their various fields of action.
Expertise will be pooled, particularly in terms of scientific policy, and collaboration will take place within the Research Joint Research Units and partner units, in particular within the "Agriculture-Environment-Biodiversity" research cluster.
Other aspects of this fruitful agreement include joint work within the doctoral college, a joint charter for scientific publications and contributions to international rankings.
In terms of training policy, the relationship between Montpellier SupAgro and the University of Montpellier will mainly involve the provision of Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate courses, and will result in the co-signature of diploma scrolls.
They also intend to work together to build synergies such as the Collegium "Agriculture & Alimentation".
Finally, the two establishments aim to pool skills in student life, international relations and human resources, and to set up joint administrative initiatives.
Through their commitments to the joint charter for scientific publications and the co-signature of diploma scrolls, the establishments are meeting the expectations of the MUSE I-SITE jury.