- With more than 75,000 students and 7,500 employees, the public university of Lille weighs in the Lille metropolis.
- An important role that the university has decided to remind the various candidates for municipal elections by sending them a white paper.
- Inside, several questions on research, student accommodation or public transport are included.
With more than 75,000 students and 7,500 employees, the University of Lille has enough weight in the Lille metropolis. Aware of its importance, one of the largest public universities in France, reunited since 2018, has therefore decided to challenge candidates for municipal elections for the first time in its history. In the six cities of the metropolis where it is present (Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Ronchin and Loos), the university had the idea of sending a white paper to all the lists represented.
Inside, no demands, just questions about how politicians want to support the Lille academic world. “It was a special moment. There is no political malice. We simply want to hear the candidates because we have a certain number of questions and questions that go back to us every day and which concern policies ”, explains Jean-Christophe Camart, the president of the University of Lille.
"We want to make candidates aware of the social and societal role of the university"
Development of research, financing of projects, housing, public transport or even cultural life, most of the themes related to student life are addressed in ten priority themes.
“We want to make the candidates aware of the social and societal role of the university. We build the values of the society of tomorrow. The university is really at the service of the territory. So you have to be as attractive as possible to attract students to Lille. The arguments should not be based only on training but also on a whole range of services offered, ”continues Jean-Christophe Camart.
Ideas to improve the attractiveness of the university
Pending the return of all applicants, the university already has ideas to improve its attractiveness. “You need things that make sense on the scale of a large metropolis. I am thinking of a preferential rate or free public transport for students. We must also think about soft mobility between campuses, and why not a fleet of electric vehicles. Finally, the supply of housing is probably insufficient in mainland France. We need a full range of social to high-end for students, "says the president of the University of Lille.
It remains to be seen what answers the candidates will give to college. Most of them played the game and presented their proposals. A summary will be made and kept to see if the promises and beautiful speeches will not last until the time of the municipal campaign.
Municipal
Municipal in 2020 in Lille: The animalist party enters the race for the belfry
Municipal
Municipales 2020 in Lille: Ask your question to Martine Aubry, candidate for a fourth term
- Municipal
- University
- Lille