University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) visits Université Paris-Saclay Campus to Discuss Further Bilateral Operations
On 5 October 2022 President Estelle Iacona hosted a UQAM delegation led by Rector Magda Fusaro and Vice-Rector Christian Agbobli, in charge of Research, Creativity and Dissemination at UQAM. The visit highlighted the importance of the bilateral institutional partnership covering areas of education, research, and multi- and cross-disciplinary initiatives, taking a special significance in the light of the forthcoming 2023 France-Quebec Innovation Year.
A vast diversity of ongoing projects and starting initiatives
The launch of the brand-new dual-degree master’s programme in Intellectual Property in Artificial Intelligence remains the institutions’ flagman academic initiative. The curriculum is based upon the second-year master’s programme PIDAN dispensed by UVSQ, Paris-Saclay associated member, and co-directed by Professor Mélanie Clément-Fontaine.
While cooperation at the master and PhD levels remains an issue of mutual interest, Rector Magda Fusaro drew attention to the importance of fostering more exchanges at the undergraduate level.
Considering the decision of UQAM to withdraw from the BCI programme, a scheme that has allowed dozens of French students to spend up to two exchange semesters in Montreal, the parties agreed on the necessity to conclude a bilateral study exchange agreement to preserve the mobility flows. Also, UQAM raised its outbound mobility scholarships by 40% to encourage more of its students to engage in study abroad experience.
Links between UQAM and Paris-Saclay go beyond academic initiatives and include operations in research, such as those led by Professor Jan Borm (UVSQ) with his UQAM fellows Professor Daniel Chartier and Professor Anne de Vernal.
Recently the partners went further by developing programmes designed to share practices between the universities’ faculty members and to encourage staff mobility. Teaching Innovation is part of the partners’ key priorities: thus, a dedicated Research Chair has been recently created within Paris-Saclay University, under the coordination of Professor Martin Riopel, Vice-Dean in charge of Research at the Department of Education Sciences at UQAM.
A tech visit
As part of their visit, the delegation had an opportunity to be hosted by the EDF Lab’ by Etienne Brière, Scientific Director of R&D, discover the facility, its showroom and testing centre.
Things to come up
The visit mentioned several important operations to come. Thus, a cooperation agreement between MEI Quebec and Paris-Saclay Territory to boost a bigger involvement of Université Paris-Saclay in Research and Innovation activity with Quebec. The 2023 France-Quebec Innovation Year is seen as an excellent opportunity to maintain the dialogue and proceed with the reinforcement of Quebecois-French relations with a focus on economic development, including job creations both in Quebec and Saclay.
A potential academic and research trip to Canada led by President Estelle Iacona was equally mentioned. If the dates are yet to be determined, the objectives remain clear: reinforce Paris-Saclay relations with its key Quebecois and Canadian partners.
Reception of the UQAM delegation at the International and European Relations Department of Université Paris-Saclay on 5 October 2022