Close ×Artois University
France
General profile of the institution (education – research – service to society)
The University of Artois (henceforth Artois) has a student population of almost 12,500 within its 5 campuses in the Hauts de France region. The campuses are Arras (Human Sciences), Béthune (Applied Sciences), Douai (Law), Lens (Sciences and Tertiary Sector) and Liévin (Sports). Each campus is located in a medium-sized city (between 25,000 and 40,000 inhabitants).
Artois has 500 administrative staff (66% of women) and 609 teaching staff (43% of women).
Since its beginnings in 1992, Artois has established itself as a major contributor to local development, social mobility and professional education. We are a modern and dynamic institution which is in perfect harmony with the educational system, offering innovative teaching and combining the acquisition of knowledge with vocational skills.
A policy of international openness:
Artois has always pursued a policy of international openness. Partnerships (over 250) have been consolidated with various universities and research centers worldwide in the form of bilateral agreements, exchange programs, blended intensive programs double degrees, and cotutelles doctorates.
Artois is a member of EURAXESS France Network, a European initiative that supports the mobility of international researchers. and has also been awarded the « Bienvenue en France » (welcome to France) label by the Ministry of Higher Education.
Experience in (setting up) course management systems for virtual campus (Moodle)
The Moodle LMS was made available to our staff in 2010, with increasing usage over time and a multiplied interest during the health crisis. This year, we have counted 896 teachers who have proposed at least one course. Currently, 4,218 courses are online and concern a little over 10,000 students in total.
Until 2016, we offered annual training workshops at each of the university’s sites. As teachers gradually took ownership of the platform, these workshops were progressively replaced by tutorials, individualized support, or on-demand training, which are more appropriate and appreciated.
At the request of teachers or initiated by educational engineers, various plugins have been installed. Among the most popular are Group choice (group work), Zoom meeting (video conferencing), appointments (making an appointment with a teacher), Wooclap (online quiz), compilatio (anti-plagiarism), and H5P (formatting). Also, note a very strong use of assignments and tests (native plugins in the platform).
Using Moodle, we offer 7 entirely remote degree programs, including several Master 1 and 2 programs. These programs offer approximately 150 courses for a little over 500 students each year.
We set up a web TV in 2014 (https://artoistv.univ-artois.fr), which allows teachers to upload videos for pedagogical or research purposes. It also includes videos from students submitted as part of their studies. To date, almost 3,000 videos are online, with around 1,500 being broadcast privately for Moodle use.
We have recently implemented an automatic subtitling system, currently only available in French.
Finally, the Zoom platform, acquired during the health crisis, remains widely used for colloquiums and research seminars, with the possibility of subtitling in many languages.
The university offers a wide spectrum of courses, both in Initial and Further Education. Courses are well-balanced and in line with the European LMD (Undergraduate, Masters, and Doctoral studies).
BETHUNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Béthune)
A THREE-YEAR DEGREE
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering and Computer-integrated Manufacturing
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Industry Careers: Robotics and Mechatronics
Industry Careers: Mechanics
Construction Careers: Building and Construction
Construction Careers: Public Works
Construction Careers: Civil Engineering and Construction
Construction Careers: Environmental and Energy Performance of Buildings
Health Careers: Food and Nutrition
Analytical Chemistry: Quality Checks and Environmental Assessment
Quality, Hygiene, Health and Safety, Environment
Maintenance and Technology: Pluritechnical Systems
Materials and structures: Management, Design and Production
Industrial Careers: Managing Industrial Production (pending accreditation)
A THREE-YEAR DEGREE
Electrical and I.T. Engineering for Industry
Logistical Industrial Quality and Organisation
Telecommunication Networks
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Computing and Information Technology and Telecom Networks Careers
Industry Careers: Managing Industrial Production
FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES (Béthune)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Engineering
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Industrial, Production and Energy Systems Maintenance
Industrial Product Design
Construction Careers: Energy and Environmental Performance of Buildings
MASTER’S DEGREE
Civil Engineering
Electronics, Electrical Energy and Automation
Industrial Engineering
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Logistics and Flow Management
MASTER’S DEGREE
Production, Management, Logistics and Purchasing
FACULTY OF SCIENCES (Lens)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Chemistry
Physics and Chemistry
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Food Industry: management, production and product valorisation
Environmental Protection and Management
Landscape Gardening: design, management and maintenance
MASTER’S DEGREE
Chemistry
Nutrition and Food Sciences
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Computing and Information Technology
Mathematics
MASTER’S DEGREE
Computing and Information Technology
Mathematics
LENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (LENS)
A THREE-YEAR DEGREE
Computing and Information technology
Multimedia and Internet Carreers
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
I.T. Carreers: Designing, Developing and Testing Software
Digital Careers: Designing, Editing and Building Websites
A THREE-YEAR DEGREE
Marketing Techniques
Company and Administration Management
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Management and Accounting: Managing Client Portfolios in Accounting Films
Marketing Products and Services
Marketing Tourism Products
Commerce and Distribution
Assistant in Human Ressources Management
E-Commerce and Digital Marketing
FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (Arras)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Economics and Management
Social and Economic Administration
MASTER’S DEGREE
Human Resources Management
Marketing and Sales
Entrepreneurship and Project Management
Currencies, Banking, Finance ans Insurance
Sectorial Management
FACULTY OF HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND HERITAGE STUDIES (Arras)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
History
Geography and Planning
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Landscape Gardening: Design, Management and Maintenance
Training for Tour Guides
MASTER’S DEGREE
Geography
History, Civilisations and Heritage
Religious ans Social Sciences
Territorial Management and Local Development
FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES (Arras)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Foreign and Regional Languages, Literature and Civilisations
Foreign Languages Applied to Business
MASTER’S DEGREE
Foreign and Regional Languages, Literature and Civilisations
Foreign Languages Applied to Business
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND ARTS (Arras)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Literature
Performing Arts
MASTER’S DEGREE
Performing Arts and Live Shows
Teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE)
Museum and Expographic Studies
FACULTY OF LAW (Douai)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Law
UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (3 YEARS)
Legal Activities
MASTER’S DEGREE
Legal Proceedings
Local Authority Law
Environment and Town Planning Law
Company Law
FACULTY OF SPORTS AND PHYSICAL TRAINING (Liévin)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Science and Technique of physical ans Sports Activities
MASTER’S DEGREE
Health adapted physical activity
DEUST
Animation, Marketing Sports Provision
Research at Artois and Open Science:
Artois has a bold and demanding research policy. On the strength of its 17 approved Research Units, Artois University fosters and develops research excellence built around 4 Fields of Major Interest (« DIM » : Domaine d’Interêt Majeur), in connection with national and European scientific projects:
DIM 1: Artificial intelligence
DIM 2: Environmental Energy Efficiency
DIM 3: Heritage, Territories and Cross-Cultural Awareness
DIM 4: Reconfigurating the social fabric : Assessing, Explaining and Taking Action
Below is the list of the research laboratories that are in alignement with Q-Helix:
Centre de Recherche en Informatique de Lens (CRIL): Lens IT Research Centre (UMR CNRS 8188) Lens, Faculty of Sciences and Institute of Technology
Civil Engineering and Geo-environmental Laboratory – LGCgE, Béthune, Faculty of Applied Sciences
Electrotechnical Systems and Environment Laboratory – LSEE, Béthune, Faculty of Applied Sciences
Artois IT Engineering and Automation Laboratory – LGI2A, Béthune, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Institute of Technology
Blood-brain Barrier physiopathological Laboratory – LBHE, Lens, Faculty of Sciences
Catalyst and Solid State Chemistry Unit – UCCS (UMR CNRS 8181) Lens, Faculty of Sciences
BioEcoAgro, Lens, Faculty of Sciences
Multi-disciplinary Research Unit : Sports, Health and Society – URePSSS, Liévin, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education
LEM Laboratory – Artois team (UMR CNRS 9221) Arras, Faculty of Economics, Management, Administration and Social Sciences
RIME Laboratory – Artois team, Arras, Faculty of Economics, Management, Administration and Social Sciences and Lens Institute of Technology
More details on some key areas:
Artificial intelligence
The research at CRIL deals with the design of autonomous intelligent systems.
Depending on the information available, such systems should be able to take reasonable decisions to reach given goals. To do so, some form of reasoning is needed. The main difficulties to be solved to realize such systems are diverse.
First, the information to be exploited must be acquired. It can be learned from various types of data (descriptions of situations or scenarios, examples of use cases, operating traces and so on.) but also transmitted by different sources or agents with which the system under consideration interacts. Taking these sources into account requires the ability to synthesize, aggregate and reformulate the processed information in order to be able to exchange it and transmit the results (decisions, predictions, recommendations, and actions to be taken) to the users (other agents, human or not) in an appropriate form. It is also necessary to be able to make this information evolve and to manage its dynamics, in particular when conflicts appear.
The available information is usually heterogeneous and imperfect. It typically includes knowledge transferred or extracted from data, beliefs about the state of the world in which the intelligent system evolves (e.g: physics law, but also data gathered from more or less reliable sensors). It contains the information about the other agents found in that world, the description of available actions and their effects, the preferences of the agents on the state of the world or the actions to perform. The imperfection of available information has several facets (which are correlated): incompleteness, uncertainty, inconsistency, contextuality, among others. In all cases, it is necessary to define models adapted to these different types of information, but also to design and analyze information representation formalisms that are appropriate to the targeted tasks.
The kind of inference necessary to simulate an “intelligent” behavior are multiple and must be modeled. It is also necessary to be able to explain the reasoning that is carried out, to justify given decisions and to evaluate their robustness. Finally, a last source of difficulty to integrate is linked to the computer: the inference and decision making processes considered are often sophisticated and computationally intractable in the worst case. It is therefore important to identify the sources of complexity involved in order to overcome them as best as possible, by developing efficient algorithms in practice, or by developing methods such as approximation or compilation that can sometimes avoid this computational difficulty.
In order to address these challenges, CRIL organizes its activities along three main and interconnected axes: data, knowledge, and constraints.
Civil Engineering and Geo-Environment
The Laboratory of Civil Engineering and geo-Environment (LGCgE) was created in 2010 with the aim of bringing together regional research potential in the field of geo-materials, civil engineering, building and geo-environment. The main goal is to meet the challenges of exploring new civil engineering materials, deep understanding of soils and environment problems, sustainable construction, the protection of natural resources and the management of industrial sites.
The LGCgE is headed by the Artois University, the University of Lille, IMT-Nord Europe and Junia. Organized into 5 research teams, the laboratory has more than 200 members. In order to reinforce the inter-team cooperation, the laboratory has created two transversal operations respectively on “Materials” and “City”. These operations aim to consolidate existing cooperation and explore new cooperation.
The main activities of LGCgE range from geo-materials (important constituents of infrastructures) to buildings. The whole leads to the city of tomorrow and takes into account the related environmental aspects. These latest emerging topics respond to the problems linked to soil, water and air pollution. Experimental and theoretical means are also available. These two major components are complemented by research on housing and the smart city to form a united whole in a laboratory of civil engineering and geo-environment.
Electrical Engineering
The research conducted at the Laboratory of Electrotechnical Systems and Environment (LSEE) focuses on the environmental efficiency of rotating electrical machines and transformers. In other words, the researchers at the laboratory design more efficient electromagnetic components that are constrained by their applications and accepted in their environment. A good example is an electric actuator embedded in an aircraft: it needs to be lightweight, reliable, and powerful.
Thus, the team works together on two closely related pathways:
1. The design of efficient and silent electrical machines. This efficiency research relies, for example, on the use of high-performance electrical steels and the dimensioning of specific machines by developing original methods.
2. Structural reliability with the detection of aging-related faults or the improvement of Electrical Insulation Systems (EIS). The researchers implement breakthrough materials or develop original models to understand the complex phenomena that occur within the windings.
These two themes converge on the common goal of designing machines capable of withstanding extreme internal temperatures.
A strong and historical identity of LSEE lies in the systematic validation through experimentation. The testing facilities are renowned and contribute to the laboratory’s strong appeal.
Logistics
The LGI2A laboratory (Laboratory of Computer Engineering and Automation of Artois) is a host team of the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research (UR 3926). It currently is composed of more than fifteen research lecturers within a single “Decision support” team. This team revolves around two major scientific themes : Optimization of Complex Systems, Uncertainty management.
Our laboratory’s flagship applications focus on sustainable logistics and mobility.
Applications areas : Smart Mobility, Sustainable logistics, decision and information fusion (DFI theme), OptiSCo theme (methods for solving notoriously difficult and often combinatorial problems encountered in logistics systems).
Biology
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is localised at the brain microvessel level and isolates the brain from the whole body. This barrier represents an obstacle to deliver drugs into the central nervous system. Therefore there is a real need to better understand this barrier to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Our laboratory has been investigating BBB for at least 30 years by developping in vitro models using animal but also human cells. With these in vitro models, we study BBB physiology in normal and pathological conditions. We also aim to better understand molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in drugs passage across the BBB in order to improve diagnostic or therapy for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, etc
Currently, the laboratory is composed of 9 researchers, 8 technical members and students/post-doc. Among our different in vitro models, we developped and patented a human BBB model consisting to cultivate CD34+-derived endothelial cells with brain pericytes. We also develop human models based on iPSCs. The technical platform (SMART platform, with 2 mass spectrometers) allowing us to measure drug/molecule passage across the BBB.
The BBB-Lab was involved in several national and european projects. We have participated in 2 FP7 2008-2013 : EUSTROkE, focusing on stroke, and PREDICT IV, aiming to develop in vitro models to assess drug toxicity. We also were involved in the european project ACUTETOX, for predicting the neurotoxicity of chemicals in the frame of the REACH legislation.
We are currently involved in these following projects : BtRAIN, SNOWBALL, DIASYN, In3, NanoStem, CNS Antidote, MAGBBRIS & NINTARMAL.
Agro-food
The Transborder Joint Research Unit BioEcoAgro is a new structure created in January 2020, bringing together approximately 300 researchers and technicians from both sides of the Franco-Belgian border, including those from the regional biotechnology and agri-food research laboratory, the Charles Viollette Institute, on the French side. Its ambition is to develop an international center of excellence in the field of applied biological engineering for agriculture, biotechnology, agri-food, and the environment.
This research unit is divided into 3 main thematic areas, each comprising 3 research teams. The “Structure-Function Relationship for Rational Formulation of Ingredients and Food” (FRAI) team belongs to Theme 3, “Formulation – Food Quality and Safety – Nutrition – Health.”
This multi-site team brings together researchers from the University of Artois, the University of Littoral Côte d’Opale, JUNIA-ISA Lille, and the University of Liège (Gembloux AgroBioTech). The team based in Arras consists of about ten individuals, including 3 professors, 2 assistant professors, a research engineer, a secretary, and doctoral students who are hosted at the ADRIANOR agri-food technical center located in the ZI Est in Tilloy-les-Mofflaines.
Our approach, implemented in Arras, Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Lille, consists of considering the entire life cycle of a food product, from the raw materials used in its production to its consumption. This approach combines scientific expertise in fundamental research (such as determining the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins) with applied research (such as sensory evaluation of products) to analyze and investigate the various physicochemical mechanisms governing the evolution of the organoleptic, textural, and nutritional qualities of food. Therefore, our research activities revolve around three axes, which, through an integrated and rational approach, enable the development of high-value-added food products.
Axis 1: Variability of raw materials and their sources
Axis 2: Techno-functional ingredients: structure-function relationship
Axis 3: Impact of formulation, manufacturing processes, and storage conditions on food quality
The applied research conducted within these three axes allows us to meet the needs of agri-food industry professionals with whom we collaborate at both the regional and national, and even international levels. Likewise, through these axes, the FRAI team is involved in several regional, national, and international research projects, some with a more fundamental aspect.
Sports and Physical Activities
The approach adopted by the SHERPAS Lab since its foundation in 2002 promotes dialogue between disciplines of socio-logy, history, psychology and physiology, and respect for eachother’s academic practices. These scientific approaches shape the identity of the SHERPAS Lab and place it at the intersection of science and technology of physical sports activities and social sciences. For a quarter of a century, the lab has been committed to studying sports as a scientific topic as well as a social construct. In 2018 a new scientific program was launched, with the goal to interpret the use of the body in the context of physical and sports activities (PSA) and of physical and sports education (PSE), within the framework of the reconstruction and disintegration of social belonging. Our studies aim to examine whether PSA and PSE affect the construction or the consistency of the recognition and protection of the personal and social identities and if so, to what extent. We study these relationships from the opposite perspective: we also seek to know how the isolation of individuals, the threatened cohesion of society, and the decline of institutions can influencethe APS and the EPS. During our research carried out in various contexts and fields, the focus shifted to situations where physical, social, economic, psychological vulnerabilities are detectable. Through adopting multidisciplinary scientific approaches, the conscious use of materials and measures, and being aware of the limitations of these research tools, the lab members carry out high quality research of vulnerabilities. This program is completely in line with the third strategic pillar of Artois University.
Applied Economics
The LEM (Laboratory of Economics and Management) is a Joint Research Unit (No. 9221) that brings together the CNRS, the University of Lille, and the IESEG School of Management, with partner institutions being the University of Artois and the University of Littoral-Côte d’Opale.
The research conducted within the LEM is inherently multidisciplinary. It encompasses both theoretical and applied aspects, and the members of the LEM address requests from economic and social environments. The research conducted at the LEM often addresses important societal issues, as evidenced by our collaborations with the National Research Agency (ANR), the National Cancer Institute (INCA), the Court of Auditors, the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL), among other partners.
the LEM is a young and dynamic laboratory with a strong scientific ambition and a marked international vocation. The quality of the work carried out by LEM researchers has been recognized, with the unit receiving an evaluation by HCERES designating it as “one of the top units in economics and management in France,” and its scientific output being noted as “excellent”.
Artois advocates open access to research and scientific knowledge. This involves sharing research findings, data, methodologies, and other research outputs with the broader scientific community and society at large. This allows researchers, students, policymakers, and the public to access, use, and build upon scientific knowledge, leading to increased visibility, impact, and potential for societal benefits.
Aligned with the current national and European political landscape, Artois has taken a proactive approach in implementing an institutional policy that embraces Open Science. As a result, a dedicated steering committee for Open Science was established in 2022. Aware of its responsibility, Artois is fully committed to the Open Science movement and wishes to support the entire scientific community and users in this process.
Service to society:
There are many ways in which Artois contributes positively to the broader community. Our ambition is to to apply the expertise and resources of the university to address social, economic, cultural, and environmental issues, and to make a positive impact on the well-being and development of society as a whole. Below are a few examples to illustrate our dedication to serving society. (Other actions will be mentioned later in this questionnaire)
Artois and Vivalley Campus
Artois, a partner of Vivalley Campus led by the Lens-Liévin Agglomeration Community and located at the heart of the sports excellence hub in Liévin, the Vivalley Campus positions the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of Liévin at the core of its ecosystem. Vivalley Campus is a competitiveness cluster in the field of sports, health, and well-being. It brings together businesses, higher education institutions, and research organizations on the same territory, with the aim of working synergistically to implement projects for economic development through innovation. The training programs offered by the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of Liévin, focused mainly on education, motor skills, sports training, and adapted physical activities for health, attract more than a thousand students. Throughout their academic journey, ranging from Bachelor’s to Doctoral level, students acquire solid knowledge and skills in teaching physical activities to various audiences, as well as in project engineering and design.
The connections established with the companies at Vivalley Campus provide students with opportunities for internships and apprenticeships. Conversely, this partnership offers short-term training programs tailored to the needs of Vivalley Campus companies and professionals. It can also lead to research contracts with the faculty’s researchers who are members of the “SHERPAS” laboratory. This laboratory conducts research in sociological, psychological, physiological, and historical aspects of physical and sports activities. Applied research contracts or action research projects are carried out to address various social demands from the business, non-profit, and public sectors, focusing on health, integration, inclusion, and motor performance.
Life-long learning
Each year, the Continuing Education Service of the University of Artois (FCU Artois) trains over 2000 adult learners, including apprentices, employees on training leave, active employees in companies, job seekers, and individuals under judicial supervision (prisoners).
The close relationships maintained with local, regional, and national economic actors allow Artois to establish cooperative agreements in the field of continuing education to meet the skills demands of companies. For example, the IUT of Béthune established an on-site training program at Air France five years ago for employees of the airline in the networks and telecommunications domain. More recently, there has been a training program in Agroproduction Chemistry with Roquette Frères.
Finally, as part of the institution’s contribution to economic and social development, FCU implements university diplomas (DU), often initiated by economic or institutional partners. In recent years, several diplomas have been established, including a DU in Chinese language and culture in collaboration with the Regional Council of HDF, ethics of AI, a DU in Agroproduction Chemistry, and a DU in Medical-Social Assistant Secretary, which validates the professional title of medical secretary.
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