Rouages: “Lifelong Learning at UM”
Catherine Bellanger and Salomé Bessaïh work in the Continuing Education Department (SFC-UM). Catherine assists candidates in the process of having their prior learning recognized to earn a degree, while Salomé develops new training programs tailored to a primarily working-adult audience. This month, as part of the“Rouages”video series, they share insights into their work with us.
We meet Catherine Bellanger and Salomé Bessaih—both program coordinators in the continuing education department—at Richter, on the second floor of a building overlooking the Lez River. Despite the early hour, the two colleagues are in high spirits, attuning themselves to the needs of the participants they support. “The continuing education audience is particularly motivated. They all have different backgrounds and profiles, but what they have in common is having a goal and being determined—it’s up to us to be the same,” says Salomé Bessaih.
The continuing education department consists of about thirty people spread across four locations: Building E on the Richter Campus, the Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT), the Nîmes University Institute of Technology (IUT), and the Sète Marine Station.“This department is for anyone who wants to return to school to further their education,” explains Catherine Bellanger. “We support job seekers, employees, professionals, and students enrolled in vocational training contracts as part of lifelong learning.” Within this department, the seven program coordinators are divided among three areas of activity: science and technology; law, economics, administration, and management; and health, sports, and education.
Develop new training programs
Salomé works in the fields of law, economics, administration, and management. Her main responsibility is to develop new training programs tailored to the continuing education audience—that is, primarily employees. For example, I am currently working on the Master’s 2 in Labor Law, which is currently only available as an initial degree program, but for which a second track will open next September for employees (lawyers or legal professionals) who wish to advance their skills, with a schedule specifically designed for them. "Each year, new programs are thus offered at the University of Montpellier, while others are discontinued and reinstated depending on expressed needs."
These new training programs are developed either in response to a request from an educational coordinator or directly at the request of companies seeking to train their employees.“We don’t get involved in the educational content, ” explains Salomé, “we provide support for the administrative and financial aspects: does the training need to be approved by the board of directors; does it need to be registered in the national training catalog; who pays and how?” The department also assists with professional training contracts by meeting with companies on-site.“This second mission, led primarily by Ana Bozovic, who is also a project manager within the department, involves connecting continuing education trainees with companies so they can complete their training through work-study programs.”
Assisting with the recognition of prior learning
For her part, Catherine Bellanger has been focusing for the past year on providing support for the validation of prior learning (VAE). All universities organize the VAE for their own degree programs; there are more than 600 such programs at UM.“Candidates for this VAE are eligible for 12 hours of support to complete what is known as Booklet 2. It consists of professional scenarios and evidence of competence that they must present orally before a panel,” explains the project manager. About sixty people complete their VAE each year at UM, and Catherine Bellanger supports about twenty ofthem.“I’m not a subject matter expert; the subject matter expert is the candidate whom we support all the way through to the panel.”
Catherine Bellanger also works with the funding agencies for these training programs, which fall into two categories. Public funding agencies, primarily the Regional Authority and Pôle Emploi, but also Mission Locale“for the youngest participants and those furthest removed from the education system,” she explains. Companies also fund various training programs.“Whether this funding is public or private, it is always directed toward an individual who will undergo training in person or remotely, by taking courses or through the VAE. We are a public service, and this concept is particularly important,” she emphasizes.
Highlight
Soon, both of them will take part in one of the highlights of the year: the DAEU graduation ceremony—the Diploma of Access to University Studies, which is equivalent to the high school diploma.“At UM, it’s a cohort of about 100 people, ”explains Catherine Bellanger. “These are people who have been away from school for a long time and are giving it their all to earn this diploma. Recognizing that commitment is a very moving moment,” she concludes.