Under the theme "The student experience at the heart of the university and the territory," the 2026 welcome ceremony at the Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB) began with Nicolas Mourgues, the student VP, leading the event. The president of USMB, Philippe Briand, highlighted current challenges and the university's determination to prepare for the future.
Three roundtables explored the ambition to make the university a place for learning, personal development, and territorial engagement. The first, focused on academic success and student health, included Delphine Lison (Medical Director of Student Health Services), Gilles Mazzon (Director of CLOUS Savoie Mont Blanc), Sonia Métalnikoff (Head of the USMB Success Unit), and Lina Tétart (2nd-year Literature student).
The second roundtable, "Student life and territories: a winning dynamic?", examined the links between the university, its students, and local authorities. Participants included Thierry Repentin (Mayor of Chambéry and President of Grand Chambéry), Dominique Puthod (Vice-President of Grand Annecy), Nicolas Mercat (Mayor of Le Bourget-du-Lac), and Jean-Claude Darcy (Director of Sustainable Development at Sopra Steria Annecy and Secretary of the USMB Business Club). They highlighted the reciprocal contribution between the university, its local attractiveness, and the students' input.
Finally, the third roundtable, "Are students already building tomorrow's world?", showcased the experiences and commitments of young researchers and students such as Lohan Alauzet, Romane d’Agostini, Anthony Biard, and Roxane Garcia-Gonzalez in civic debate, research, and entrepreneurship.
This 2026-2027 welcome day also featured the presentation of several new initiatives, notably in the presence of Boris Targe, Director General of CROUS Grenoble Alpes.
