Strategic partnerships

As part of its internationalization strategy, Université Laval has opted to build close relations with a limited number of universities in order to foster stronger synergies.

Université de Bordeaux
Université Côte d’Azur (UCA)
Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Université de Lausanne
Université de Lausanne
Sorbonne Université

The projects generated by these partnerships stem for a shared vision of development in shared sectors of excellence. They testify to the strong potential for cooperation and often take the shape of cross-cutting training-research initiatives:

  • Sharing best practices in university governance
  • Joint or alternating summer schools
  • Joint intensive courses
  • Dual-degree programs
  • Co-supervised PhDs
  • Student, faculty, and professional mobility 
  • Scientific networks and collaborations
  • Joint research projects with cross-funding
  • Joint chairs
  • International associated laboratories (LIAs) and international joint units (UMIs)
  • Co-organization of scientific events
  • Research and training internships

(Please note that some links in this section are in French only)

University of Bordeaux

University of Bordeaux (UBx)

With its 575 years of history and 54,000 students, the University of Bordeaux is a multidisciplinary higher education establishment anchored in its territories and renowned at European and international level. Recognized for its capacity for innovation and labeled "Initiative of Excellence", the University of Bordeaux contributes to major scientific advances with its academic and socio-economic partners in France and around the world.

Our strategic partnership

Université Laval and the University of Bordeaux have a very long history of friendship. Together, they have developed numerous educational and research collaborations since concluding their first strategic alliance in 2007, with more than 20 agreements to date, as well as cooperation and formative initiatives throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

University of Côte d’Azur (UCA)

Created in 2015 through the merger of several Côte d’Azur universities and postsecondary institutions, University of Côte d’Azur (UCA) is a research university ranked among the best in France.  Selected for the French government’s Excellence Initiative (IDEX) in 2016, UCA has established five academies of excellence and encourages transdisciplinarity through its core programs.

Our strategic partnership

In February 2017, UL and Université Côte d’Azur signed a strategic partnership framework agreement to concretize our shared desire to collaborate effectively in all areas of academic life.   

The partnership has already given rise to several joint transdisciplinary research projects cofunded under flagship collaborative endeavours such as the one between UCA-JEDI and Sentinel North.

Website
Ensemble pour la science

University of Côte d’Azur
Science place in UCLouvain

Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain)

Founded in 1425, UCLouvain is one of the oldest universities in Europe. This forward-looking institution is the leading French-language university in Belgium, with nearly 31,000 students on 7 campuses. UCLouvain is a globally oriented university—25% of its teaching staff and 40% of its scientific staff is international.

Our strategic partnership

The growing number of scientific and educational collaborations and of European students coming to Université Laval led UL and the Catholic University of Louvain to sign a strategic partnership agreement in 2018.

University of Lausanne

Founded in 1537, the University of Lausanne (UNIL) has 7 faculties and 15,000 students, 20% of whom are international students. UNIL offers a stimulating academic environment where innovation is valued and knowledge is put to work to serve the broader community.

Our strategic partnership

In addition to the strategic partnership signed in 2017, UNIL and Université Laval have consolidated ties through the creation of the international Joint Unit in Neurodevelopment and Child Psychiatry (UMI-NP) and the development of a roadmap identifying potential areas for future collaboration:

  • Teaching in higher education
  • Geoscience and medicine
  • Nursing
  • Psychology and sport
  • University governance (sustainability and international relations)
University of Lausanne
Sao Paulo State University

Sao Paulo State University

Founded in 1976 in the wake of the merger of several institutions, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), is Brazil’s largest public university, with facilities in 24 cities in the state of Sao Paulo.

Our strategic partnership

As part of the partnership with UNESP, the Quebec-Brazil Photonics Research International Joint Unit (UMI) was created under the direction of Professor Younès Messaddeq in 2013. UMI’s research program, which is associated with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Photonic Innovations, aims to develop photonic material for applications in IT, medicine, public health, and the environment and sustainable development.

UMI is based on the ULaval campus. Eleven Brazilian professors and researchers have worked there as visiting faculty since 2013, along with 10 graduate students completing their dissertations under ULaval-UNESP co-supervision.  Faculty members and graduate students from UNESP and other groups of research partners also regularly visit UMI.

Additional work, including projects cofunded by Brazilian sources, is also underway in Sao Paulo.

Sorbonne University

Sorbonne University is a world-class multidisciplinary research-intensive university specializing in the humanities, medicine and science. It is committed to meeting major societal challenges and disseminating the knowledge generated by its research teams. With some 52 000 students, 6400 teachers and academic researchers and 3900 administrative and technical staff at the heart of Paris and in various regions across France, Sorbonne University is a diverse, innovative and outward-looking institution. It is part of the Sorbonne University Alliance, which brings together 6 institutions promoting a global approach to teaching and research. Sorbonne University is also a member of the 4EU+ Alliance.

Our strategic partnership

With their complementary strengths and shared values, Sorbonne University and Université Laval signed a strategic partnership agreement in June 2021. The agreement is a concrete expression of their desire to address international issues through an innovative approach, in a concerted effort to serve our communities. 
Both universities seek to develop collaborative research projects, knowledge transfer activities, joint specialized training and student and faculty mobility.

Sorbonne Université