University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines facts for kids

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University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Université Paris-Saclay
Simone Veil health research department
Motto	La dynamique de la connaissance et de l'innovation The dynamics of knowledge and innovation
Type	Public university (EPCSP)
Established	1991
Endowment	€166 M
President	Alain Bui (since October 2017)
Vice-president	Alexis Constantin
Administrative staff	752
Students	19,000 (in 2012)
Doctoral students	658 (in 2012)
Address	55 avenue de Paris - F-78035 Versailles, France , Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines , Île-de-France , France
Campus	Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Mantes-en-Yvelines, Vélizy-Villacoublay, Rambouillet, Le Chesnay, Mantes-la-Jolie, Mantes-la-Ville
Nickname	UVSQ
Affiliations	Advancity, Cosmetic Valley, Medicen, Mov'eo, Systematic Paris-Region, University of Paris-Saclay
Website	www.uvsq.fr

The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (often called UVSQ) is a public university in France. It was started in 1991. The university is mainly located in the Yvelines area, but also in Hauts-de-Seine. It is part of the larger Paris-Saclay University system.

UVSQ has eight different campuses. These are mostly in the cities of Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Mantes-en-Yvelines, Vélizy-Villacoublay, and Rambouillet. It is one of five universities in the Versailles Academy.

This university is one of four "new universities" opened in the Île-de-France region after a big plan to improve French universities in the 2000s. About 19,000 students attend UVSQ. It has many teachers and staff who help students learn and grow.

UVSQ offers courses in many subjects. These include science, social studies, politics, engineering, technology, and medicine. The university also teaches about how different topics connect, like economics, ethics, the natural environment, and sustainable development.

History of UVSQ

How the University Started

The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines began in 1991. Before that, a part of the Pierre and Marie Curie University opened in Versailles in 1987. It focused on science. A law school from Paris West University Nanterre La Défense also opened in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines two years earlier.

In the 1990s, the French government wanted to improve higher education. They created a plan called "Université 2000." This plan led to the creation of eight new universities. UVSQ was officially formed on July 22, 1991. It brought together the science and law branches from the older universities.

Growing and Changing

In 1996, the university's rules were updated. This new law meant the university had elected leaders. Michel Garnier became the first president. He set up different groups to help run the university, like a board of directors and a student life council.

Dominique Gentile was the second president. He helped create new parts of the university. These included a school for advanced degrees (Ph.D. School) and institutes for technology. During this time, a medical college also joined UVSQ. This helped the university grow as more students enrolled in France.

From 2002 to Today

In 2002, Sylvie Faucheux became the university's president. In 2004, UVSQ started using the "réforme LMD" system for its courses. This system helps students earn degrees in stages: Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate.

Many changes happened after 2002. A training center for apprentices was created in 2006. A medical research department moved to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in 2007. UVSQ also became a member of UniverSud Paris, which helps universities work together. The university has also expanded its focus on the "plateau de Saclay" area. This area is known for its world-class universities and research centers.

Who Studies Here?

The number of students at UVSQ has grown a lot. From 1993 to 2013, the student population more than doubled. In 2013-2014, there were about 9,600 undergraduate students. There were also 6,600 graduate students and 700 students working on their PhDs.

Many students choose to study law, economics, and management. These subjects made up 37% of all students in 2013. Science and engineering were also very popular. Most undergraduate students (60%) are female. However, in some technology programs, more students are male.

Many students at UVSQ come from families with good jobs and education. About half of the new students come from business and professional families. The university also welcomes many international students. In 2010, about 2,400 students were from other countries. This was 13.3% of all UVSQ students. Almost half of the PhD students were from other countries.

University Buildings and Locations

Where is the University Located?

The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines has many locations. Its main campuses are in Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Mantes-en-Yvelines, and Vélizy-Villacoublay / Rambouillet. In total, it has eight campuses across two different areas and seven towns. These campuses cover a large space of 160,000 square meters.

• The Versailles campus has the science college and the ISTY computer science college.
• The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines campus teaches law, political science, social science, medical research, and space science. This campus also has the universe observatory.
• Another science campus is located in Le Chesnay.
• Vélizy-Villacoublay has the IUT of Vélizy, and Rambouillet is one of its smaller locations.
• The Mantes-la-Jolie campus is home to the IUT of Mantes-en-Yvelines.
• Mantes-la-Ville has the mechatronics college of ISTY.

Special Medical School

The Unité de formation et de recherche médicale Paris Île-de-France Ouest (also called PIFO) is a medical school that is part of UVSQ. It joined UVSQ between 2001 and 2002 and is located in Guyancourt. This school works with several hospitals, including Raymond Poincaré University Hospital and Ambroise-Paré Hospital. Two schools for midwifery are also part of the PIFO department.

The Observatory: Studying Earth and Space

The OVSQ is part of the university. It focuses on sustainable development, which is very important to UVSQ. The observatory is on the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines campus. It focuses on observing, teaching, and supporting the environment.

OVSQ studies changes in the environment, including how they affect health and society. It works on space programs with the French National Center of Spatial Studies (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The observatory helps with international projects that watch the atmosphere. It also creates tools to observe and understand natural and social events.

To help future generations, OVSQ teaches students about different fields. These include economics, humanities, and environmental studies. This helps students learn about sustainable development. The observatory also helps with climate studies and supports the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Advanced Studies (PhD Programs)

The university has special schools for students who want to get a PhD. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get. These schools also help professors get special qualifications. There are five such schools, and 102 PhD degrees were given out in 2009.

• The Cultures, Regulations, Institutions and Territories PhD school studies topics in social sciences, humanities, law, and political science.
• The Genome Organizations PhD school focuses on biology and genomics. It also connects with mathematics, computer science, physics, and chemistry.
• The Environmental Science PhD school covers many fields related to understanding Earth's environment. This includes its physical, chemical, and biological balance.
• The Science and Technology of Versailles PhD school studies chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering.
• The Public Health PhD school works with other universities. It has laboratories that research epidemiology, health, environment, aging, and infectious diseases.

University Libraries

UVSQ has several libraries where students can study and find books. The main library opened in June 2002. It is very large, with an area of 8400 square meters. It holds over 100,000 books. In 2005, another large library opened in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It has 7500 square meters and 1,100 places to read.

A new library for science students opened in Versailles in September 2011. In total, the university has six libraries. They are located on campuses in Vélizy, Boulogne-Billancourt, Rambouillet, and Mantes. These libraries have about 200,000 books, 5,000 digital books, and 26,000 magazines and newspapers.

How the University is Run

University Leadership

Like other public universities in France, UVSQ is led by a president. The president is chosen by a board of directors. The president is also part of three main councils that help run the university. Teachers and other staff members serve on these boards for four years. Student members are elected for two years.

• The board of directors has 30 members. It decides the university's main goals and manages its money. It also approves agreements and plans.
• The academic and university life council has 40 members. It is in charge of teaching and ongoing education. It also helps the board approve new courses.
• The scientific council has 40 members. It is responsible for research activities. It also gives advice on changes to PhD courses.

Past Presidents

Since it started in 1991, UVSQ has had six presidents:

• Michel Garnier was the first president, from 1991 to 1997. He was a professor of geophysics.
• Dominique Gentile was president from 1997 to 2002. He was a professor of physical sciences.
• Sylvie Faucheux was the third president, from 2002 to 2012. She is an expert in environmental economics.
• Jean-Luc Vayssière was the fourth president, from 2012 to 2016. He is a biology professor.
• Didier Guillemot was the fifth president, from 2016 to 2017. He is a doctor.
• Alain Bui is the current president, since October 2017. He was a teacher at the science college before becoming president.

University Money

In 2011, the university had a budget of 166 million euros. This was a big increase from previous years. The money helps pay for everything the university does, from teaching to research.

The university also has many teachers. In 2009-2010, UVSQ had 464 permanent teachers. This included university professors and assistants. It also had many temporary teachers.

UVSQ Foundation

The UVSQ Foundation helps the university in many ways. Its goal is to support UVSQ in its education and research. The foundation works with other top schools and research groups.

The foundation helps with training programs and research. It also supports projects that focus on social responsibility. It was created in 2010 by nine founding members, including the university and several companies. Some of its projects include scholarships for students and helping to develop the university library.

Academic Information

University Rankings

UVSQ is recognized as a good university. Here are some of its rankings from different sources:

University Departments

UFR des sciences de la santé Simone Veil

The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is made up of ten main parts. These include six faculties (schools), two University Institutes of Technology, one School of Engineering, and one Observatory.

UVSQ also manages three schools with other institutions:

What You Can Study

In 2012, UVSQ offered many different types of courses and degrees. These included:

• 50 Bachelor's degrees
• 95 Master's degrees
• Degrees in engineering and medicine
• Courses for people who want to get into university

Bachelor's degrees were offered in four main areas: arts-humanities-languages, law-economy-management, humanities and social sciences, and science-technology-health. Master's degrees were offered in five areas, including environmental science and economics.

Research at UVSQ

UVSQ is very active in research. It has 35 laboratories where scientists work. Twelve of these laboratories are connected to the French National Centre for Scientific Research. The university has about 950 researchers and 715 PhD students.

Research is divided into six main departments:

• Chemistry, Physics, Materials, Renewable Energy: This department studies materials and how they can be used in technology.
• Environment and Sustainable Development: This department covers science, humanities, economics, and medicine related to the environment.
• Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering Sciences: This department focuses on math, computer science, and how to design systems.
• Biology and Health: This department has about 300 researchers and 1,200 medical students. They research biology, medicine, and public health. They work with several hospitals.
• Cultures, Humanities and Sciences: This department researches languages, cultures, business, and social sciences.
• Institutions and Organizations: This department focuses on management, law, and political science.

The Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace is a research institute that studies global environmental sciences. It is located in Guyancourt. Three of its six laboratories are partly overseen by UVSQ. These laboratories study Earth and planets, the atmosphere, and climate science.

Famous Teachers and Alumni

Many well-known people have taught or currently teach at UVSQ.

• In sociology, teachers like Roland Guillon (who studied employment) and Laurent Mucchielli (who studies crime) have been part of the faculty.
• Historians like Bernard Cottret and Christian Delporte (who studies 20th-century French history) have also taught here.
• In science, Rémy Card, who created a famous computer file system, has taught at UVSQ.
• Valérie-Laure Bénabou, a teacher of private law, is also on the faculty.

Honorary Degrees

UVSQ gives special "honorary degrees" to important people. These are called Doctors honoris causa. In 2011, the university gave these degrees to six people. They included teachers from top universities like the University of Chicago and Columbia University. A famous Israeli director, Amos Gitai, also received an honorary degree.

University Look and Feel

The university has a logo that shows a white sunrise over a green earth. This represents sustainable development, which is a key focus for UVSQ. The university also publishes a magazine called T'DACtu every two months. It shares news with partners, students, and staff. There is also a monthly video diary called UVSQ & Vous.

Student Life at UVSQ

Student Services

Student Life Department

The Direction de la Vie Étudiante (Student Life Department) helps students in many ways. It guides new international students and helps all students find housing. This department also supports student activities like cultural events, sports, and student clubs.

The DVE manages places where students can eat, relax, and study. These areas are found on the Versailles and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines campuses. The DVE also offers students discounts for cultural events like movies, plays, and concerts. Students can join over 20 different sports activities on some campuses.

CROUS Services

The CROUS (Centres Régionaux des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires) is a service that helps improve student life. It offers many services to all students. CROUS can help students find places to live close to their universities. In 2011, over 8,500 students lived in residences managed by CROUS.

CROUS also gives scholarships to students who need financial help. They have staff who can advise students. On campus, CROUS runs restaurants where students can buy meals at lower prices. CROUS also helps students find jobs or internships for free.

Financial Help for Students

Students can apply for financial aid for the next school year. The deadline is usually between January and April. The amount of help depends on family income, how many children are in the family, and how far the student lives from campus. There is also help for students preparing for public service exams. Students can even apply for bank loans that are guaranteed by the French government, meaning they don't need to find their own guarantors.

Student Clubs and Activities

UVSQ has about 30 student clubs. These clubs offer activities in many areas like science, social sciences, law, medicine, and the environment. There are also clubs for international students, communication, and student involvement. It is easy for students to join a club or even start a new one.

Being part of a club allows students to create and develop projects that are not for profit. Clubs can present their projects to the FSDIE commission. This commission gives money to student projects. This money partly comes from the registration fees students pay each year. The commission meets several times a year to decide which projects get funding. Other university partners can also help fund these projects. In 2013, a student house opened on the Versailles campus. It is a large building with spaces for activities, a cafeteria, and offices for student clubs.

International Connections

From the very beginning, UVSQ has built connections with universities around the world. It participates in programs like Erasmus, which allows students to study abroad. In 2011, the university had about 230 partner universities.

In 2010, UVSQ welcomed 330 international students through exchange programs. The university also welcomes foreign students who want to earn a French degree. In 2010, about 2,400 foreign students were enrolled, making up 13.3% of all UVSQ students. A high percentage of PhD students (45%) are from other countries.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines para niños