Great success for the "National Defense and Security" diploma
Launched in 2016, the institutional diploma in "awareness of national defense and security issues" is welcoming itsthird class , sponsored by the former director of the national gendarmerie, General Guy Parayre. The first national diploma of its kind when it was created, it has been a resounding success for the past three years.
Educating responsible citizens
This enthusiasm reflects the current interest in defense and security issues. The DE helps to build bridges between the world of security and the civilian world. During the 72 hours of teaching, students on this institutional diploma course can learn about the workings of the police, gendarmerie, fire service, emergency medical services, justice system, army, and prefecture.
"It's about moving away from idealized images and describing the specific roles of each of these actors. This is a real challenge for citizenship in the current context," explains Christophe Chesa, program director, professor at the Montpellier University Institute of Technology, and national defense and security advisor at the University of Montpellier.
Protocol with the Department of Defense
This diploma is part of the "Developing and Promoting the Spirit of Defense" protocol signed in 2007, 2012 and 2016 between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Agriculture. Its main objective is to raise students' awareness of defense issues (civilian and military) through the implementation of specific courses in partnership with the Ministry of Defense and the regional association of auditors of the Institute for Higher National Defense Studies (IHEDN).
A generalist degree open to all
Since the creation of the institutional diploma in "awareness of national defense and security issues," an average of 40 students have been trained each year, with a steady increase in applications and a growing number of female students (20% female enrollment in 2016, 25% in 2017, and 52% in 2018). Open to all levels and profiles, this diploma welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds, with a high proportion of lawyers (40% of the student body in 2018). Since its launch, it has opened up to the outside world: this year, one in three students is not from UM.
72 hours of instruction
The curriculum includes 72 hours of instruction on topics such as:
- the functioning of security and defense services;
- the national police force;
- the national police;
- justice;
- the SDIS;
- the Army;
- emergency medicine and forensic medicine;
- customs;
- the security of a local authority;
- cybercrime;
- the prefecture: coordination of crisis management.
Opportunity to obtain a first aid training certificate (PSC1)
Registration fees:
- UM-MUSE students: €100 (€50 for students receiving scholarships)
- External participants: €150
A total of 36 places available, including 12 for external participants.
The university diploma as seen by students
"A very affordable university diploma, regardless of the field of study."
"A highly appreciated course that provides insight into public service professions that are sometimes misunderstood (particularly police and justice). For informational purposes only, this university diploma provides a better understanding of how the French state works and the different people who work for us on a daily basis. This university diploma really opened my mind (and made me question my future career path)."
"Very interesting training course, short but rich and rather well organized."
"I find the university diploma very comprehensive and extremely interesting! It should even be extended, and there should be no hesitation in organizing other visits/presentations."