International development at Université Côte d'Azur

The international development strategy of Université Côte d'Azur is based on the establishment of strong and selective partnerships with respect to objectives of excellence in research and training and the integration of international networks.

planisphère actions internationales
planisphère actions internationales

Ulysseus

Université Côte d'Azur was a leader with the Universities of Seville and Genoa in the construction of an Alliance of European Universities (Ulysseus) project submitted for the second call for Erasmus + projects and selected in July 2020. In addition to these three 'generalist' universities the Ulysseus project includes three 'technical' universities; MCI (Austria), Haaga Helia (Finland), TUKE (Slovakia). In the same spirit as UCAJEDI, Ulysseus builds ecosystems of academic, institutional and economic players to develop themes related to societal challenges. In 2023, University of Munster and University of Montenegro have joined the alliance.


ulysseus
ulysseus

Large partnerships and knowledge hubs

Laval, QC

In 2015, a Université Côte d'Azur delegation visited Université Laval and laid the foundations for a broad partnership, with the intention to develop efficient collaborations together in both education and research. This privileged partnership is part of the desire to respond to societal issues in a coordinated manner and thus to generate concrete benefits in research and innovation in their respective regions. It offers opportunities for knowledge sharing and international mobility for members of both university communities.
In all fields, be it women's health, artificial intelligence, northern plants and essential oils, etc., exchanges between the two universities have made it possible to imagine new projects. The North American and European (French) approaches are different and thus enrich points of view, strategies and help our institutions evolve in response to each other's input. Student and faculty mobility is also enriching since it enables the transfer of knowledge and skills through training programs, internships, research and laboratories.
The partnership in figures:

  • 3 Chairs in Leadership and Teaching (CLE)
  • 6 research partnerships
  • 5 Sentinel Nord-UL/UCAJEDI research teams
  • 2 joint work teams on international structuring projects on smart cities and innovation territories
  • 6 teaching exchanges from UL to Université Côte d'Azur
  • €1,690,000 investment in Sentinel/UCAJEDI projects (including €270,000 by each of the universities)
  • 4 student exchanges.
The dedicated web site for the Université Laval partnership 
Franco-Russian University

Program on hold.
The Franco-Russian University is a network of higher education and research institutions established in 2016 by 4 Russian and 4 French universities to promote culture, education and youth exchange. The founding members are as follows. On the Russian side: the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA); the Russian Foreign Trade Academy under the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (RFTA); National Nuclear Research University (MEPhI); and RUDN University. On the French side: University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (now Université Côte d'Azur); EDHEC Business School; NEOMA Business School; and SKEMA Business School. The main goal is to ensure the development of human resources for the advancement of science and technology, and to boost national innovations and the competitive potential of both partner countries. This includes, but is not limited to, boosting the numbers of highly skilled staff for joint Franco-Russian ventures; expanding trade and economic ties; increasing and properly balancing academic mobility programs; and involving Russian and French businesses in education projects.

Bangalore

As one of the fastest growing countries and a hub of "frugal innovation", India is one of the most inventive nations and therefore represents an opportunity for scientific cooperation and student exchanges. Since 2016, Université Côte d'Azur, under the impetus of UCAJEDI, has undertaken several actions to consolidate and structure its relations with India, targeting the best Indian institutions in Bangalore's innovation ecosystem. Université Côte d'Azur has participated in the first PhD Tour organized in 2017 by the French Embassy in India, a 2018 exploratory visit around India, and the organization of a Franco-Indian scientific workshop in Nice in 2019. These actions have enabled Université Côte d'Azur to:
- Sign a framework cooperation agreement with the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISC), in which 4 joint exploratory projects have been initiated in the fields of mathematics, physics and biology (biocontrol)
- Launch 4 joint exploratory projects with the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) in the fields of mathematics (theoretical and applied) and physics
- Launch 2 joint exploratory projects with the National Centre for Biological Sciences in the fields of health and biocontrol.
The number of students enrolled at Université Côte d'Azur has increased significantly since 2017.

Santiago, Chili

A strong partnership is being built with the University of Chile (Santiago) with which we have several common interests: participation in the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CNRS International Joint Unit, of which we are a full partner), projects in the field of the arts with Villa Arson, AI (with Inria), and plant biology and the environment (with INRAe).

chili
chili

Multi-campus strategy 

Danang, Vietnam

The Danang International Institute of Technology, created in May 2017 by the University of Danang (UD) and Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), focuses on innovation and technology transfer activities. DNIIT plays a key role in the construction of a new "University-Business-Society" ecosystem. It was the result of a clear willingness on the part of the Governments of Vietnam and France to strengthen the development of teaching and research activities in higher education in Da Nang city.

UFTAM

UFTAM, the Franco-Tunisian University for Africa and the Mediterranean, is an intergovernmental project designed to promote a new type of training program in Tunisia for Africa and the Mediterranean. The aim of this Franco-Tunisian action is also to address a major challenge in Africa which will see millions of young people enter the higher education and employment market in the next decade. Université Côte d'Azur was able to highlight historical relationships in Tunisia and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as an innovative training proposal focused on soft skills and transversality. Joining a prestigious consortium of 4 French and 3 Tunisian universities, Université Côte d'Azur's participation is exemplified with the contribution of:
- 2 university diplomas, which opened in 2019-20
- Participation in 2 master's programs to be launched in 2020-21 in African Economic Intelligence and Marketing, and the Digital Economy
- An undergraduate program will be launched in 2020-21: Water and Environment
These programs offer students a range of training courses focused on innovation and employability on a continent that presents significant international challenges for the coming decade.

Montenegro

The Balkan Institute of Science and Innovation (BISI), created in March 2019, is a result of a strategic cooperation between the University of Montenegro (UoM) and Université Côte d’Azur (UCA). The Institute is positioned as a regional scientific center, and seeks to unify the research and innovation capacities of the Balkan region and South-East Europe.

Specific partnerships

UTAH

Université Côte d'Azur has developed foundational programs with partners, including the University of Utah, which is the leading American university in student entrepreneurship.
These initiatives include:
- A bootcamp hosted in Salt Lake City in 2018 (2 UCA student teams participated)
- A global entrepreneurship program was welcomed to Nice in 2019
- A successful application for European IRM funds to ensure student and staff mobility
- A project for a sustainable innovation summit in Nice (N'ICE: Nice Innovation Crossover Experience)
- A proposal for a UofU antenna site at Université Côte d'Azur is being developed as part of a multi-campus strategy.

Monell Chemical Senses Center

By partnering with Monell, the number one research center in olfaction worldwide, with a major esearch and innovation program, UCA seeks to advance our fundamental knowledge of olfaction and gustation using complementary biology, genetics, chemistry, modelling and psycho-physiology , and sensory experiments.

LIA ROPSE - Monaco

Université Côte d'Azur and the Scientific Center of Monaco created an International Associated Laboratory in February 2020 to strengthen collaborations in the field of scientific research, innovation and training in marine and medical biology by integrating the human and social sciences.
The objective is to:
- Consolidate existing synergies and create new transdisciplinary links, in the fields of marine biology, polar biology and medical biology, by integrating approaches from the human and social sciences
- Develop, in a context of climate change, programs for the study of the impact of environmental change on organisms, populations and ecosystems by integrating the human dimension
- Develop innovative research with significant added value in the biotechnological and clinical fields.

Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique

Université Côte d'Azur, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the OCP Group created a joint international laboratory in July 2019. The official signing of this prestigious partnership took place in the presence of the French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and her Moroccan counterpart. The main objective of this laboratory is to pool the experience and expertise between the partners from both countries in order to address scientific issues related to priority projects, particularly in the field of chemical sciences. It will also facilitate the training and exchange of students at the master's and PhD level, as well as the mobility of researchers. The creation of this joint international laboratory enables Université Côte d'Azur to join, alongside MIT, EPFL, Université Laval, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal and other world-class institutions, a network of excellence with high international visibility.

University of California Berkeley

Université Côte d’Azur and University of California, Berkeley, signed an MOU on 8 December 2018. This partnership will facilitate the development of research and education projects, as well as the exchange of faculty and students in all disciplines. It emerged from the excellent relations existing between the Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT) and the Centre National de Création Musicale (CIRM).

International doctoral program in economics
The international doctoral program in economics at Université Côte d'Azur offers high-level training in traditional economic subjects (microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, financial market analysis, industrial organization) as well as additional training in subjects related to the analysis of complexity, such as computational economics, experimental economics, analysis of economic and financial networks and analysis of dynamic systems.
This doctoral program is operated in close collaboration with the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa (Italy) and the OFCE-Sciences Po. The recruited students have a year of intensive courses in Pisa and an additional semester at Université Côte d'Azur. They also regularly participate in scientific events and research activities organized by the host institutions.
The courses are taught in English by instructors from Université Côte d'Azur, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, IUSS Pavia and OFCE-Sciences Po. External researchers are regularly invited to make contributions in their field of expertise.
 

5663 incoming international students in 2019-2020

533 incoming students within an exchange program

644 outgoing students in 2018-2019

Europe Research Office

Welcome Center

Monell Chemical Senses Center

Welcome Center and MIO

The Welcome Center is the point of entry to Université Côte d'Azur and its partners for new and visiting researchers and faculty, international PhD students and their partners. This service is dedicated to welcoming and assisting them with their administrative procedures. The Welcome Center provides accommodation at Nice and Sophia Antipolis Faculty Clubs. The Welcome Center has formed a joint unit with the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture to facilitate immigration procedures. An agreement with the rectorate of the Académie de Nice also facilitates the enrolment of children of new researchers in local schools.
The MSc International Office (MIO) has proven to be a valuable asset in helping international students to get themselves settled within Université Côte d'Azur and the region. MIO provides administrative support at different levels (academic as well as social) and has helped our new students to find their way in France and to contribute to the society in their own way. Advice is available to students both on-campus and virtually, for students participating in online courses.