Full success for the "National Defense and Security" diploma

Launched in 2016, the "awareness of national defense and security issues" school diploma welcomes its3rd 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 over the past 3 years.

Training responsible citizens

It's an enthusiasm that bears witness to the resonance of today's defense and security issues. The DE helps build bridges between the security and civilian worlds. In the course of 72 hours of teaching, students on this school diploma gain an insight into the workings of the police, gendarmerie, fire department, SAMU, justice system, army and prefecture.

"It's about getting away from the stereotype and describing in concrete terms the missions of each of these players. It's a real citizenship issue in the current context," explains Christophe Chesa, head of the diploma program, professor at the Montpellier IUT and "national defense and security" referent at the University of Montpellier.

Protocol with the Ministry 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, and its main objective is to raise students' awareness of defense issues (civil and military), by setting up specific courses, in partnership with the Ministry of Defense and the regional association of auditors of the Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale (IHEDN ).

A generalist diploma open to all

Since the creation of the "Awareness of national defense and security issues" school diploma, an average of 40 students have been trained each year, with a steady rise in applications and an increasingly female workforce (20% female workforce in 2016, 25% in 2017 and 52% in 2018). Open to all levels and profiles, this DE welcomes students from a wide range of backgrounds, with a high proportion of lawyers (40% of the workforce in 2018). Since its launch, it has opened up to the outside world: this year, one in three students is not from the UM.

72 hours of teaching

The curriculum includes 72 hours of teaching on topics such as :

  • the operation of security and defence services ;
  • national gendarmerie;
  • national police ;
  • JUSTICE;
  • SDIS ;
  • Army;
  • emergency medicine and forensic medicine;
  • customs ;
  • the safety of a local authority ;
  • cybercrime;
  • Prefecture: crisis management coordination.

Option to take the PSC1 first-aid training diploma.

Registration fees :

  • UM-MUSE students: €100 (€50 for scholarship holders)
  • External persons: €150

A total of 36 open places, including 12 for outsiders.

The DU as seen by students

"A very affordable DU, whatever your course of study".

"I really appreciated the course, which gave me an insight into public service professions that are sometimes misunderstood (particularly the police and the justice system). On a purely informational level, this DU gives a better understanding of the workings of the French state and the various people who work for us on a daily basis. For me, this DU was a real eye-opener (and challenged my future orientation)".

"Very interesting training, short but rich and rather well organized".

"I found the DU very comprehensive and extremely interesting! It should even be made longer, and I wouldn't hesitate to make other visits/interventions".