Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés (IUP)

See also directory of IUP (all sectors)

The IUPs (Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés - Professional University Institutes) have been created in 1991 within universities to serve two main purposes:

• to develop a system of professional training within the universities and
• to increase the number of graduates prepared to hold leadership positions.

There are now slightly over 120 IUPs, approximately 60 of which focus on topics in the industrial sector. These 60 programs are supposed to have produced around 4000 graduates with the title of " ingénieur-maître " in 1996 ( to be understood as college engineers).

Programs of study

IUPs offer three-year programs beginning at the Bac + 1 level (the first year of the DEUG or DUT/BTS), leading directly to employment in the industrial and service sectors.

These programs include :

• a scientific and technical basic education
• a complementary education preparing students for insertion within companies
• work experience in relevant areas

Basic training includes at least 1600 hours and at most 2000 hours of courses.

Complementary training includes teaching in at least one foreign language, communication techniques, management techniques (law, economic and financial aspects).

Courses are partly taught by company staff.

Work experience lasts at least 19 weeks. It is either spread over the entire program or organized within the last year.

A small number of graduates of the IUP programs continue their education with a DRT (technical research diploma), equivalent to 6 years of study after the baccalauréat.

The IUPs aim to conform to the European standard established by the German Fachhochschulen.

A degree of "ingénieur-maître" at the level Bac +4

The following degrees may be provided by IUPs :

• DEUG (Diploma of general university studies), after the first study year
• Licence, after the second study year
• Maîtrise after the last year.

Upon completion of the entire program of study, the title of "ingénieur-maître " will be granted to students, by the dean after exam results have been accepted by a special jury.

The title of "ingénieur-maître " may be delivered by the dean of students, when proposed by a special jury that looks at the exam results.

The title of "ingénieur-maître " may appear confusing. Until now it has not been accredited as an engineering degree by the CTI (Engineering Title Committee) as it corresponds to a Bac+4 level engineering program instead of Bac+ 5. However, the quality of the IUP engineering programs is being recognized and in the near future the "ingénieur-maître" may be able to get a real engineer degree after two years of professional experience.

Evaluation process

The IUPs are currently regulated by a National Evaluation Commission. This commission is composed equally of professionals and academics, and is assisted by national pedagogical commissions. Its main task is to advise the Ministry of Education on the programs proposed by universities and to follow the progress of the IUPs by a continuous evaluation process. The commission also overviews the national distribution of IUPs in the 16 areas currently accredited and the possibility of creating new fields of specialization.
There are nine areas currently offered in the industrial sector.

 claude.maury@wanadoo.fr Leave any suggestions, ideas or improvements that could be used.
http://www.cri.ensmp.fr/~cefi/