Official visit of the President of the University of Réunion to the University of New Caledonia (UNC)

28th August 2025

As part of his participation in the international conference "Competition and Regional Economic Integration - Issues and Challenges for Small Island Economies", university professor Jean-François Hoareau, President of the University of Réunion, was welcomed to the University of New Caledonia by its President, Catherine Ris, accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Laurence Monté-Dépond. A […]

As part of its participation in the international conference “Competition and Regional Economic Integration – Issues and Challenges for Small Island Economies”, the university professor Jean-François Hoareau, president of the University of Réunion, was welcomed to the University of New Caledonia by its president, Catherine Ris, accompanied by her chief of staff, Laurence Monté-Dépond.

A university serving the region and its youth

The visit began at the House of Languages, where the president spoke with his director, Tiphaine Mayran de Chamisso, on the issues of student mobility and cooperation.

He then went to the FabLab, guided by Thomas Quiniou, head of the structure, who presented several innovative projects currently under development. This first sequence ended with the traditional presentation of gifts.

Jean François HOARAU, during his visit to the Fab Lab
Discussion between the president of the university and the director of the Maison des Langues of the University of New Caledonia

The discovery continued at the University Library, under the direction of its director Philippe Besnié, then within the Digital and Educational Uses Department (DUNE), where he was able to visit the audiovisual installations, in particular the recording studioVery impressed by this equipment, the president welcomed the resources made available to enrich teaching practices and support innovation in higher education.

Encourage innovation and support research

The visit also allowed the President to discover the laboratories of the ISEA research unit as well as the  electron microscopy platform. The UR ISEA was presented by Michael Meyer, a teacher-researcher in physics, and the microscopy platform by Aurélie Monnin.

University sport, a major issue

Finally, the visit concluded at Sports center, with a meeting with Eric MichalakThe discussions focused on the development and financing of university sport as well as the importance of University Sports Excellence Center (PESU), an essential device for supporting high-level student-athletes.

This rich institutional visit ended with a exchange of symbolic gifts, sealing the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the University of Reunion and the University of New Caledonia.

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