The possibility of a two-week closure of the University of Strasbourg (UniStra) in the face of soaring energy prices was mentioned last September.

It is now confirmed.

The UniStra board of directors validated a new schedule on Tuesday, activating the closure for two additional weeks this winter of most of its 600,000 square meters of buildings.

“It is a measure that must be tested”, welcomed its president Michel Deneken, who had expressed his desire to students, teachers and staff in mid-September by means of a video posted on YouTube. , recalling that "each day of heating costs 120,000 euros" to UniStra.

Concretely, the return from the Christmas holidays will take place on Monday January 9 instead of Tuesday January 3, with a delay or an adjustment of the exams accordingly.

The week of February 13 to 20 will also be the subject of an "educational break" for lessons.

“There will be no return to distance learning,” reassured Michel Deneken when this possibility was also mentioned last September, judging the Covid period “extremely traumatic” for its 60,000 students.

On these additional closing weeks, staff members are encouraged to telecommute as much as possible.

Three of the twenty libraries at the University's eight sites will remain open, as will some state-of-the-art research buildings.

Towards an electricity bill of 36 million euros

At the end of October, the Minister of Higher Education Sylvie Retailleau announced the release of an envelope of 275 million euros to help research organizations, colleges and universities to cope with the additional costs linked to soaring prices. Energy.

“It will only represent a few million for Strasbourg”, estimated Michel Deneken while the energy bill of the university is on the way to triple to 36 million euros for 2023, against 10 in 2021.

"There was no reason to maintain these closures after the announcements of the minister", on the contrary denounced Pascal Maillard, the academic secretary of the national union of higher education (Snesup-FSU), majority among the staff of the University of Strasbourg.

Three advisory committees had successively come out against the energy sobriety plan, the timetable for which was finally approved by the board of directors by 21 votes for, 13 against and 2 abstentions.

"A longer-term strategic action plan on ecological transition" will be presented at the next board meeting in December, said the university presidency.

“University calendars will have to adapt, and not just in Strasbourg.

It's the only way to make lasting progress”, persisted Michel Deneken.

Planet

Climate change: A UN report points to the acceleration of global warming at the opening of COP27

Company

Rennes: "We keep the coat"... Heating Rennes-1 University, mission impossible?

  • Energy sobriety

  • University

  • Closing

  • Strasbourg

  • Great East

  • Economy