Choosing a University of Marseille Degree Program
Every year, the University of Montpellier offers more than 500 institutional degrees. It’s a rich and varied selection, but one that isn’t always clear to the general public. So what is an institutional degree? Who is it for? In what fields, and what is it for? We’ll tell you more with Céline Ritterszki, assistant director of the Continuing Education Department at UM (SFC-UM).
University degrees, college degrees, institutional degrees, certifications… It’s not always easy to navigate the wide variety of educational programs offered by universities today. In addition to national degrees—such as bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees—administered by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, there is in fact a whole range of degrees offered by the universities themselves. These are known as institutional degrees (DE), and there are more than 500 of them at the University of Montpellier.
Meeting a specific need
The term “institutional degrees” encompasses university diplomas (DU) and certifications.“Institutional degree is the generic name given to degrees approved by the University’s Board of Trustees,”explains Céline Ritterszki, deputy director of the Continuing Education Office (SFC-UM). “They are administered by the academic departments with support from the Office of Academic Programs and Instruction and the SFC.”
While these degrees do not have national accreditation, in the case of inter-university degrees (DIU), they may be awarded jointly by several institutions. In all cases, they offer significant and definite advantages. The uniqueness and value of an institutional degree lie primarily in its ability to address a specific, identified need.“This may be a response to a demand from the business world, a regional specificity, or a need for specialization in a targeted field,” explains the assistant director. Institutional diplomas (DE) are the ideal setting for a competency-based approach.
A diverse and ever-changing selection
The University of Montpellier’s School of Medicine offers no fewer than 194 university-specific degrees. It is not the only department to offer this type of specialization. There are about thirty such programs at the Faculty ofLawandPolitical Science, ranging from cybercrime to coastal law. There are also about thirty in management,business administration, andeconomics, about twenty in sports science (STAPS), and others in chemistry, dentistry,pharmacy, andeducation. New institutional diplomas are created every year, “either at the initiative of faculty members who identify a need in the field or by a department that wishes, for example, to train staff on a new legislative framework, as is the case with the new data protection regulations [GDPR].”
Some university diplomas (DU) can also be interdisciplinary and applicable to all fields of study. The new university diploma in“ScientificDataManagement” is one such example. Finally, the continuing education department also offers several highly specialized programs, such as the DU in Specialized Aquaculture and Aquariology Technician and the DU in Aquaculture Project and Operations Manager.“This is a program we’ve been offering for 39 years, and one we’re very proud of,” says Céline Ritterszki.“These university diplomas are held at the Mediterranean Coastal Environment Station in Sète, in a field that lies at the heart of MUSE’s priorities (Feed, Protect, Care).”
Programs tailored to active participants
Another key feature of the DE programs is their target audience. Accessible to students at various academic levels, they can be taken in addition to a traditional university program, but they are primarily intended for working adults—employees, self-employed individuals, professionals, job seekers, and others—who wish to specialize, return to school, or change career paths. It’s worth noting that the Continuing Education Department is accredited as a training organization, allowing participants to use their Personal Training Account (CPF).
With this in mind, the institutional certificates offered by the SFC are generally short-term programs organized on a schedule tailored to working adults.“It’s possible to attend classes one week per month or one day per week. Other certificates focus on distance learning; this is the case, for example, with the DU in Club Management , which is delivered entirely through e-learning,” concludes Céline Ritterszki. This flexibility allows the program to accommodate all professional schedules and meet every need, enabling everyone, in partnership with the University of Montpellier, to find the degree that’s right for them.