The University of the Future, the Future in Common(s)

🔎 What is the Student Citizens’ Assembly (SCA)? 

Since 2021, the Institut of Etudes Politiques (IEP) and the Algopo Living Lab have been organizing Student Citizens’ Assemblies (SCA) at the University of Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). This innovative deliberative initiative was collaboratively designed by students and researchers who are experts in participatory democracy. Inspired by the French Climate Citizens' Assembly for Climate experiment, the SCA is held annually at the university level, focusing on a specific theme. The aim of the SCA is to give a voice to students and enable them to participate in the development and transformation of their university.  

This initiative supports the reflective process on specific issues, allowing for the emergence of directions, proposals, and recommendations through collective intelligence exchanges. These outputs are intended to address, at our scale, contemporary environmental and social challenges while respecting planetary boundaries.  

These boundaries, totaling nine, were defined in 2009 by researchers from the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and it is crucial not to transgressss them to ensure a safe development for humanity. Currently, six of these boundaries have already been transgressed. 

✍️ The 2023-2024 edition  

The 2023-2024 edition of the SCA is entitled "The University of the Future, Future in Common(s)". It addresses the transformation of the university through a series of themes and areas of reflection: ecological transformation, UPEC commons, campus city, new professions, student well-being, student engagement, and community building. Special attention is given to the theme of water, which was chosen by the students at the conclusion of the last SCA using the majority judgment method. To address the challenges of university transformation and water preservation, we rely on UPEC researchers who are experts on these issues, as they represent knowledge, one of the commons of the university. During various working days, students participating in deliberations on different themes generate proposals for action that can be implemented at the university and local levels, and possibly at a national scale. The SCA aims to contribute to the establishment of a more just and egalitarian society. 

This year, the SCA brings together nearly 450 undergraduate and graduate students from various components of UPEC. Additionally, we are pleased to welcome throughout the course of the initiative around a hundred guests (politicians, associations, researcher-teachers, professionals, etc.) and additional students. 

🎥 Assemblé.e.s - The Student Citizens’ Assembly 2022 

An immersive documentary film entitled "Assemblé.e.s" (Assembled) was directed by Yves Lechermeier and can be watched with English subtitles.