This text is part of the special Francophonie notebook
If Laval University has concluded hundreds of agreements with other universities around the world, five of its six privileged partners are French-speaking universities.
A delegation from Laval University, including the rector, Sophie D’Amours, is currently on a mission to Nice and Bordeaux to cement two long-standing partnerships. “Laval University has more than 850 framework agreements with different universities around the world, but a large number do not necessarily generate a lot of collaboration,” explains François Gélineau, vice-rector for international affairs and sustainable development and responsible for the EDI and philanthropy. Over the years, the University has strengthened partnerships and privileged strategic relationships with six universities in particular, the majority French-speaking (three French, one Swiss, one Belgian and one Brazilian).
About fifteen years ago, Laval University developed a strategic relationship with the University of Bordeaux. “Researchers are autonomous in their research, they establish international collaborations on an individual basis, but we wanted to offer a framework [pour] develop relationships,” specifies Mr. Gélineau. The first strategic alliance was signed in 2007, a partnership which enabled a multitude of projects and agreements. “The two universities sat down together and said: why don’t we try to invite our researchers and our students to intensify their collaborations? » he says. The experience was so conclusive that it was integrated and extended to the internationalization strategy of Laval University.
The Laval University delegation will be in Bordeaux from March 18 to 20. The mission will provide an update on the numerous research and training projects in several fields, including optics and photonics, neuroscience, nutrition, law and forests. “Since the last mission, there has been a change in management team. The aim is to take stock of the respective orientations of our establishments, the progress of current projects between our teams of researchers and to explore avenues for new developments to continue to nourish the partnership,” underlines Mr. Gélineau.
The mission also stopped at the University of Côte d’Azur on March 14 and 15 in order to strengthen the privileged partnership that has united the two universities since 2017. The delegation was able to visit the Mediterranean Institute of Risk and Environment and sustainable development, which focuses on climate change and natural disaster management. “It’s an opportunity to exchange; we bring with us researchers who are already collaborating and others who wish to develop links,” remarks Mr. Gélineau. In Bordeaux, the delegation will be able to visit the Transitions Institute; “That’s one of the elements we want to explore,” adds Mr. Gélineau.
Structuring initiatives
This collaboration makes it possible to support students and researchers in developing relationships and “taking advantage of major structuring initiatives on campus,” notes Mr. Gélineau. Sentinel North is, for example, a vector of internationalization which concerns, among other things, oceanography. Artificial intelligence also gives rise to several collaborations, notably through the International Observatory on the societal impacts of AI and digital technology, based at Laval University, and its mirror at Côte University. d’Azur, the Observatory of the technological, economic and societal impacts of Artificial Intelligence.
These alliances have led to the establishment of international research teams and collaboration networks bringing together researchers on both continents, to the mobilization of students (training sessions and internships abroad), to joint supervision of doctorates, the establishment of co-degree programs, but also the exchange of good practices in university governance.
Promote international exchanges
These privileged partnerships play a role in the context of the reconfiguration of the European university environment, which consolidates links in the European space for both the mobility of researchers and students. “Our strategic partners are a gateway to European universities,” says Mr. Gélineau.
These Laval University associations also demonstrate an affinity with French-speaking establishments. The first French-speaking university in the Americas is keen to highlight collaborations in French and researchers with French colleagues across the Francophonie. “It’s an effort of quality rather than quantity. Our objective is not to increase the number of partnerships, but to establish quality relationships,” concludes Mr. Gélineau.
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