Grenoble Law SchoolLaw at the top

Can you briefly describe your career path for us?

I studied at the IUT Tech de Co, then I was a stay-at-home mom while pursuing a career in music as a freelance performer. I started out in local politics in 2001 and, in 2009, I studied for a Master's degree in Psychology at Lyon 2 while continuing to serve in my elected office.

What is your connection to higher education in your roles as First Deputy Mayor and Vice President of the Drôme Department?

The delegation entrusted to me has enabled me to forge links with higher education, particularly in terms of its ambitions and its deployment across our region. The relationship extends beyond this, as it also involves serving local businesses by offering training courses tailored to their development. The aim of offering higher education courses is also to provide the opportunity to study to a whole section of the population who would not do so without the proximity offered by a decentralized university.

You are a member of the Faculty Council: what are the challenges of representing the city of Valence within this decision-making body?

Defending a region where people live on modest incomes and who would not continue their education beyond high school if it weren't for this opportunity. It also contributes to the region's vitality by enabling 18-25 year olds to remain in the Drôme with a high-quality education, enabling them to find jobs here or elsewhere in the future with the guarantee of a standard similar to that offered in larger university centers.

You are also involved in the life of the Faculty of Law by attending graduation ceremonies and events organized by its student associations: why is this important to you?

Promoting and recognizing the work of everyone, teachers and students alike, is a pleasure and a source of pride. It also helps to showcase the quality of the training provided, encouraging future students.

The Faculty of Law trains nearly 700 law students per year in Valencia: how does this benefit the region and what career opportunities are available to them locally?

The right balance between training and local dynamics is a prerequisite, but also an asset for the development of our businesses. The law is useful everywhere, and the more new businesses we attract, the greater the need for effective legal services to deal with the realities of entrepreneurial and economic life.

Our Master's degree in Local Government Law is now offered as a work-study program: what do you think about the development of this teaching method at the Faculty, and what benefits do you see for local authorities?

An urgent need to cope with an increasingly litigious and complex society.

For many years, the University of Valence campus has been committed to defending its regional roots: what does the University represent for the Valence region?

A challenge of dynamism and consistency vis-à-vis university centers that are better known and more reputable due to their long-standing presence. Being part of university towns allows cities to be classified differently and identified as more dynamic.

The UGA Valence Drôme Ardèche Campus has grown significantly in recent years. It has become France's leading decentralized university site, thanks in particular to strong support from local authorities. What are the future development plans for the Valence Drôme Ardèche campus?

In terms of training, the focus is on expanding training programs related to nuclear energy, as the Drôme region is directly affected by this industry, which is present in the area. In terms of accommodation, significant work is underway to increase student housing and dining facilities, which are still insufficient given the number of students, particularly those receiving scholarships.

CSR is a central focus of the UGA's political agenda. One of the ways to reduce its environmental impact is to work on commuting for students and staff. What public transport policy is being pursued by the City of Valence and all local authorities in this regard?

There is still a lot of work to be done in this area. A medium-sized city does not have the same high-performance infrastructure as large cities to facilitate travel, and improvements are underway to provide more suitable transport services and connections between university campuses. Bicycle lanes are becoming more widespread, but their width does not always guarantee complete safety, as traffic routes are often very restricted by narrow streets. However, bicycles are available for users to travel throughout the metropolitan area as a complement to urban transport.