Engaging in an association, a community, or a civic project allows one to acquire sought-after skills, but these are rarely recognized in a university curriculum. To encourage and value these paths, Aix-Marseille University has created the first French university diploma dedicated to engagement. Accessible to both students and volunteers, it combines theoretical training and field experience to transform civic action into a truly recognized skill.
AI Index: Mediterranean Knowledge Library
At Aix-Marseille University, engagement is a degree-awarding training
22-med – June 2026
• Aix-Marseille University launches the first French university diploma dedicated to student engagement, combining theoretical training and field experience.
• Accessible to both students and volunteers, this program aims to recognize and value the skills acquired in associative, civic, or solidarity action.
#university #student #engagement #volunteering #citizenship #training #skill #marseille #education #youth
In 2022, according to a study by France Bénévolat, 16% of students were involved in an association, mainly in the sectors of sports, culture, social, and environment. A figure that the State is trying to increase. Because getting involved in an association or foundation allows one to gain maturity on major societal issues, experience a first professional environment, or develop soft skills such as empathy, tolerance, a sense of responsibility, or the ability to work in a team. These young people also represent an important pool of volunteers, in a country that lost 2 million between 2018 and 2022.
Since the Equality and Citizenship Law of January 27, 2017, and even more so since ministerial guidelines in 2022, student volunteer engagement can notably lead to adjustments in the university curriculum or allow for bonus points. These are avenues explored by Aix-Marseille University, which implemented a bonus in the fall of 2025 for those actively participating in territorial life, within the Marseille Student Life Council, the Marseille Youth Council, Aix Student Council, and the Metropolitan Youth Council. And above all, it created a DU (university diploma) "Engagement," a recognized university diploma, the first of its kind in France. It was designed as part of the IDeAL project (Integration and Development at Aix-Marseille through Learning), a winner of the France 2030 investment program.
The first "Engagement" DU in France
It is based on 120 hours of theoretical courses covering the issues and promotion of action, the design and management of CSR projects. Combined with 120 hours "in the field" as a volunteer in an association, reservist, student representative, or in civic service. A content that required three years of work.
“Ten teachers and educational engineers spent two years on the experimental phase alone, particularly to prepare the videos, podcasts, and proposed activities,” recounts Isabelle Bruniau di Monté, project manager of the "Student Engagement Program," part of the Student Life and Campus Directorate, which includes this DU, at amU. “Then they relied on student testers, elected or engaged in student associations, with whom they organized pedagogical follow-up meetings to improve the platform, especially its ergonomics.”
“The initial idea was to encourage, support, and value student engagement. This in an extremely complex context since our university has more than 82,000 students across 17 components, among which are programs very focused on sustainable development, for example, and others that are very distant from it...” she continues. Hence the choice of a distance and asynchronous training (which everyone can follow whenever they wish), evaluated through quizzes, role-playing, and case studies, and validated by completing the field mission.
240 hours to move from action to method
This true university course requires real commitment. “240 hours in total, including 60 of theory per semester, is a time commitment to consider,” acknowledges Chris Mezergues, who is the co-representative of the students of this first cohort. “You should not underestimate the workload. It is really very rich content, very well designed, offering a lot of resources. It can be heavy, especially for the many students who work or who are already in dual programs. But you can progress at your own pace and possibly choose to do it over two academic years instead of one.”
Another significant advantage: this DU, accessible from the second year of studies, is free for students of amU, Centrale Méditerranée, and Sciences Po Aix. It is open to students from other faculties (the cost amounts to 1274 euros) or in continuing education, with the possibility of using credits from their CPF (personal training account). “This may interest small associations as well as CSR (corporate social responsibility) departments,” explains Isabelle Bruniau di Monté. But also all volunteers who wish to "professionalize" themselves.
When volunteering becomes a recognized skill
This is indeed the case for Chris Mezergues who, at 19, already has extensive experience in engagement. In his second year of a bachelor's degree in public administration at IMGT (Institute of Public Management and Territorial Governance), he is a former representative of his high school, a facilitator of stays organized by popular education structures, and has completed his Universal National Service.
Founding member of the Lions Club Aix passion culture, vice-president of the National Youth Association (ANJ) which upholds republican values and encourages citizenship as well as youth involvement, he is also co-president of Meridio, another association encouraging young people to take their place, in a non-partisan, apolitical setting where he carries out his field mission. "The word commitment means a lot to me, I could only be interested," he says. "This diploma lends credibility to my commitment approach and will allow me to act better, to have more impact. Not to mention that it will be an asset that I can highlight in my career."
Last year, during the testing phase, "already 88% of participants said they were very satisfied to satisfied," assures Isabelle Bruniau di Monté. "They felt they had gained skills, changed scale, and could now go further in their actions. Many also considered that it increased their employability or their chances of entering a master's program." Encouraging results that prompt her to aim for more registrants for the new sessions, following an initial communication campaign with the various components of the university.
Cover photo: Saint-Charles Campus of Aix-Marseille University © Foudebassans / Wikimedia Commons