On March 25, 2026, the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard was pleased to welcome Ghislain SAMSON, president ofthe University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, as part of an official visit focused on international cooperation and the development of joint projects. He was accompanied by Guylaine BOIVIN, Director of International Relations at UQAC.
Upon his arrival, the rector was welcomed by the UTBM’s International Relations and Internationalization team—Franck GECHTER, Pauline BÈGUE, and Natallia BOLLE. The visit continued with a meeting with Ghislain MONTAVON, director of UTBM. The discussions provided an in-depth update on the many ongoing joint projects and on our institutions’ internationalization strategies. A subsequent discussion with Franck GECHTER allowed for a more detailed look at the calls for joint projects, which demonstrate the dynamism and strength of the partnership between the two universities.
This visit also provided an opportunity to highlight the achievements of students enrolled in the dual-degree programs between UTBM and UQAC. Among them, Victor KRETZ, Léon MORALES, Alban MORIN, and Mattéo POURCINE distinguished themselves by winning an artificial intelligence programming challenge, along with a $1,000 prize. This is a fine example of the academic excellence and spirit of innovation fostered by this international partnership. For more information, click here!
Another notable achievement comes from Florian BOGACZ, a member of the winning team in the “Best 3C (Camera, Characters, Controls)” university competition organized by Ubisoft in 2022, who also attests to the quality of the training programs and the joint projects.
Finally, Ghislain SAMSON had the opportunity to tour the facilities on the Belfort campus, notably Building A and the Crunch Lab—iconic venues for innovation and project-based learning at UTBM. They also met with the coordinators for incoming and outgoing student mobility, Adélaïde CAREIL and Fanny HATUEL.
This visit marks a new step in strengthening the ties between UTBM and UQAC and opens up promising prospects for the years ahead, to the benefit of students, faculty members, and the entire academic community at both institutions.
We were honored to be among the few universities selected by UQAC during their visit to France.
