Université Paris Cité 2024-2025 activity report: A look back at our 5th year

Coinciding with Université Paris Cité’s 5^th anniversary in 2025, the 2024-2025 activity report takes on special significance. Rather than merely tracing the journey since the institution’s founding, the document captures the key moments, developments, and breakthroughs of this celebratory year.

Publication at the start of the academic year

Université Paris Cité has made the choice to publish its activity report in September of each year, a date more in line with the university calendar. Furthermore, this period marks the start of the academic year, a key highlight which will feature the inaugural Planetary Health Week in 2025

Promoting an ambitious, structured strategy for the entire university

The 2024–2025 academic year was particularly eventful, marked by the development and adoption of two foundational, long-term master plans: the Student Experience Action Plan (SdEx 2030) and the Overall Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility Plan (SD DD&RS).

The university’s governance bodies approved the new 2025-2027 Action Plan for Gender Equality at Work(PEP), as part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mission. It is structured around four key areas: preventing pay gaps, guaranteeing equal treatment, promoting a good work-life balance, and preventing and addressing discrimination.

In 2024, the university also started the HRS4R (HR Excellence in Research) accreditation process, a European initiative, and obtained it in July 2025. This recognition reflects the university’s commitment to promoting a high-quality, transparent and ethical research environment, by aligning its human resources management practices with the principles of the Charter and the European Research Code.

The university is a member of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). In this context, it unveiled its CoARA action plan in 2025, outlining its commitment to reforming current research assessment practices and methods by 2030. UPCité is the fourth French university to unveil such an action plan.

Effective budget management stimulating research funding

Restoring Financial Balance and Budget Control

The measures rolled out by the university’s governance have improved accounting and budgetary indicators, restoring financial stability, with a positive balance of €24 million and a self-financing capacity of €17 million in 2024. This sound financial management enables major investments, particularly in essential real estate projects.

Research funding

In pursuit of its research objectives, the university launched the StratEx program to coordinate a wide array of projects from the Investments for the Future (PIA) and France 2030 programs. Its main source of funding is IdEx (Excellence Initiative), which amounts to €28 million per year. The university has full discretion over how this funding is allocated via its IdEx framework. The most recent version was approved in 2024 for a five-year term (2025–2030).

Key figures and data

Vocational training and job placement

• 146 courses with Hcéres accreditation for 2025-2029, including 66 licence degrees and 80 master’s degrees.
• A 21% increase in confirmed entry-level applications (Parcoursup) and 34% on ‘Mon Master’, showing the university’s growing interest.
• Incorporation of the Department of Midwifery, further enhancing the academic status of midwifery education.
• A success for the first edition of the Employment, Internships and Work-Study Hub, mobilising over 120 recruiters to help students enter the job market.

Research and innovation

• Launch of the new IdEx 2025–2030 programme to support interdisciplinary research, through “inIdEx” projects that succeed the “LabEx” ones.
• Clarivate ranks UPCité 5th for most innovative university in the world in 2025, and the Shangai ranking has UPCité 60th in the 2024 and 2025 overall rankings.
• Supporting strategic initiatives through Circle U., a European university alliance of nine partners, and ValoCité, a hub for innovation and knowledge transfer.
• A university-licenced software launched by the startup BOT Design.

Student life

• Improving the international student experience by applying for the “Bienvenue en France” label and publishing the “Be Our Guest” guide.
• Implementing inclusive actions through the 2021-2025 Disability Strategic Plan , including educational provisions, DuoDay and personalised support.
• The Student Health Service (SSE) received the ‘Maison Sport-Santé’ accreditation for its “Move Your Health” section.
• 3,100 students have received food assistance so far.

International

• Expanded strategic partnerships in Africa (Morocco, Senegal) and America (Chicago, Toronto).
• Engaging proactively in major European and international networks (Circle U., The Guild, Erasmus+).
• Strengthening the partnership with the National University of Singapore through the establishment of the Women’s Health Institute (iWISH).

View the 2024-25 activity report