Why the University of Nantes turned into Nantes University

Goodbye Nantes University, hello Nantes University! On January 1, a new establishment of higher education was officially launched, the second replacing the first. Behind this seemingly innocuous name change hides a large but fairly complex project aimed at bringing together several Nantes schools (Centrale, Beaux-Arts, the school of architecture, the university) and two institutes of research (Inserm, IRT Jules-Verne) with the Nantes University Hospital. “This is an unprecedented configuration in France, welcomes Carine Bernault, elected at the head of the new establishment in mid-December after having held the presidency of the University of Nantes for a year and a half. The objective is to join forces to bring about the emergence of a world-class public higher education and research establishment in Nantes. “

In concrete terms, this establishment, which now brings together 42,000 students, is not a merger strictly speaking but a “nesting” which will allow “decompartmentalization”. The most notable consequence for the students, the organization of this establishment in four major poles transversal (humanities, societies, health, science and technology), against twenty components currently just for the university. Objectives announced: to allow more bridges between disciplines, the emergence of new courses, and “to simplify operations which are now very centralized”, hopes the new president. Campus life will also be organized on the scale of Nantes University, with more frequent exchanges between establishments, it is promised. A new logo has also just been unveiled.

Promote research

But Nantes University’s objective is also financial. Because the creation of this experimental establishment was necessary to collect the significant envelope of approximately 40 million euros promised by the State, within the framework of the project iSite Next. For several years, the promoters of this project, which almost never saw the light of day, have wanted to place Nantes at the forefront of research on subjects relating to health and the industry of the future (innovative biotherapies, advanced production technologies, etc. ).

But after several twists and turns, including an unfavorable vote from Centrale, the project and the associated funding had been suspended in 2019. It took two years to get Nantes University back on track, and to convince new players to join this new version. .

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