UniverSud Paris facts for kids

UniverSud Paris was a special group of schools and research centers in France. It brought together 21 public universities, famous Grandes Écoles (which are like top-tier specialized schools), and national research centers. This group covered many areas of science, from basic science to engineering and business. UniverSud Paris existed from 2007 until it closed down in 2014.

What Was UniverSud Paris?

The French government started creating special groups for research and higher education in 1991. These groups were called "French Poles of Research and Higher Education," or PRES for short.

In 2007, UniverSud Paris officially became a public organization for scientific teamwork. It was led by a president and managed by a board of directors. This board included people from each school, researchers, teachers, and even a student representative.

Schools and Research Centers

UniverSud Paris was made up of many well-known schools and research places. Many of these were very old, some even started in the 1700s!

Some schools offered a wide range of science education, like École Polytechnique or École Centrale Paris. Others focused on specific science areas, such as École Supérieure d'Électricité (for electricity) or the French National Sequencing Center. Even a top business school, HEC Paris, was part of this group.

Here are some of the schools and centers that were members:

• Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences (AgroParisTech)
• National Veterinary School of Alfort (for animal health)
• National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA)
• Télécom & Management Sud-Paris
• Genoscope (French National Sequencing Center)
• HEC - Paris (a famous business school)
• École Polytechnique (X)
• Higher School of Optics (IOGS)
• SOLEIL (a French particle accelerator)
• Institute of Research for Development (IRD)
• Paris-Sud 11 University
• Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University
• University of Évry Val d'Essonne
• École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay
• École Centrale Paris
• École supérieure d'électricité (Supélec)

Quick Facts and Figures

UniverSud Paris had some impressive numbers:

• 3 Nobel Prizes were won by people connected to its member institutions.
• 4 Fields Medals (a top math award) were also won.
• 60,000 students were studying there.
• 4,200 full-time teachers and researchers worked there.
• 4,000 PhD students were working on their highest degrees.
• There were 42,000 square meters of space just for research!

Where It Was Located

UniverSud Paris brought together its 21 schools and research places in the southern part of the Île-de-France region, which is near Paris. It was started by several universities, including Paris-Sud 11 University, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, and University of Évry Val d'Essonne.

What Could You Study?

UniverSud Paris offered many types of courses, sometimes on its own and sometimes with other schools. These courses focused on science and technology, especially for students who had already finished high school.

Here are some of the main programs:

• Bachelor's Degrees: These are usually 3-year programs after high school. For some specialized Bachelor's degrees, students needed to pass an exam.
• Master's Degrees: These programs help students get a deeper understanding in different science fields, from Mathematics to Economics. To join, students usually needed a Bachelor's degree from a university in France or another country.
• Specialized Master's Certificates: These are for students who already have a Master's degree. They help students become experts in a very specific area.
• MBA (Master of Business Administration): This is a business degree that was highly ranked for helping students work in different countries.
• Doctoral Programs (PhD): About 4,000 students were working on their PhDs in the research labs of UniverSud Paris. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get.
• Continuing Education: UniverSud Paris also offered courses for adults who were already working. These courses helped professionals get new skills or even earn more degrees.