The university landscape is changing in France, particularly in Hauts-de-France where the new regional perimeter facilitates closer ties between universities located in the former regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy.

Since July 2016, ULCO has been involved in an Alliance with the Université d’Artois and the Université de Picardie Jules Verne. Between them, these three universities bring together more than 50,000 students, address 61% of the population and cover 87% of the regional territory.

Cooperation between these three universities is reflected in the introduction of joint “Quality Bonuses”. Since 2016 a joint call for projects has been funding inter-university research projects every year.

In July 2018, the Alliance was awarded the Future Investment Program (PIA) “New Curricula at the University”. This collaboration will be intensified in the coming years to encourage mutualisation, develop new projects and build a coherent site policy.