From May 12 to 16, 23 students from the Cultur.Ed program at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) took part in an immersion experience at the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France (UPHF) as part of the Step-up project. As a reminder, since September 2024, UM6P has been an associate partner of our EUNICE alliance.
Step-up is a 10-month program designed for students who have completed their baccalaureate and wish to pursue engineering studies at UM6P.
A week full of academic and cultural discoveries
They had the opportunity to explore UPHF in its entirety, participate in small group work sessions, engage in exchanges with local students, and visit several UPHF laboratory platforms.
Alongside these work sessions, the UM6P students enjoyed a cultural program designed to introduce them to the rich historical and heritage legacy of the Hauts-de-France region. They explored the emblematic cities of Lille and Valenciennes. They also visited the Louvre-Lens and Lewarde museums, places that highlight the regional history, particularly related to mining heritage.
Finally, they were able to attend a theatre performance at the national stage of Le Phénix in Valenciennes.
One of the UM6P students, Salma Haidara, explains: “This stay has left me with lasting memories and opened my eyes to other ways of living, learning and thinking. It strengthened my curiosity and my desire to experience other things, to change my routine, to renew my energy, and to live new experiences with the same spirit of observation and discovery.”
Exchanges are strengthening between the two institutions
Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in September 2024, which designated UM6P a partner university of EUNICE, exchanges between the institutions have intensified. UM6P hosted members of the alliance to present its structure, values, and to identify various possible points of collaboration with all partners.
In January 2025, a delegation from UM6P visited UPHF, where they were introduced to the institution, its collaboration with the Valenciennes Hospital, and its research laboratories, among other things.
This student immersion from UM6P is the first of its kind at UPHF. A second one is already planned from June 15 to 19, during which 25 students from Valenciennes (15 from the L3P SHN bachelor’s degree and 10 from the futsal team) will travel to UM6P for an “academic and sporting excellence week.”
