Education Services Rhône-Alpes

With 38,000 students, Clermont-Ferrand is a university town that is on the rise. Its sites are spread throughout the metropolis, but also in 5 other cities in the region. With more than 200 courses, from bachelor's degree to doctorate, including the university bachelor's degree in technology, it has all the makings of a great university and even has its nose in the international rankings. In terms of research, it is part of a dynamic of excellence, thanks to 43 laboratories.

The SUAPS offers students and staff of Clermont-Ferrand's universities over 30 activities at different times of the day, so that everyone can find a slot to suit their schedule. Activities range from the more traditional aikido, athletics, badminton, basketball and skiing, to the more original: kite flying, snowshoeing, rope acrobatics, rollerblading, yoseikan... Access to these activities is free once sports fees have been paid, and they are supervised by a team of 10 teachers and part-time staff.

Created over twenty years ago, this service is linked by agreement to the DRAC and the French Ministry of Education. Students are welcomed to take part in various workshops and in the creation of shows open to all. Specialists set up various activities, each responsible for a specific area. Non-students can take part in workshops, subject to availability, by paying an annual membership fee.

The Information and Orientation Centers were created to allow everyone to find out about studies. They are primarily intended for young people in school and their families, but also for anyone wishing to find out about a training course or a diploma. Assistance is free and by appointment. A complete documentation on jobs, diplomas, training courses is available for free consultation and loan, the available works can be searched on the Internet site. The CIO also participates in the fight against school dropout.

Student filmmakers, directors, sound engineers or editors have their school in Riom. In 2018, the French School of Cinema, Audiovisual and Music opened a second campus there, offering the city its first graduate school. The school allows students to prepare for a BTS audiovisual in sound, image and post-production, a BTS studies in the realization of a communication project, or a BTS graphic design, as well as specific professional training in individual. Merit-based scholarships are offered and the courses are eligible for the CPF.

The Sainté Pass has undergone a metamorphosis and in September 2023 became La Boge, the city's new free website for all students and young people aged 13 to 29, living or studying in Saint-Etienne. "Boge" comes from "gaga" and refers to a satchel or canvas bag. A 100% home-grown product, Boge offers good deals, discounts and free admission for young people to concerts, sports events, matches, museums, cinemas, etc. The site is available in 3 languages (French, English and Spanish), and registration is free.

Les Petits Bilingues is a network of English language and culture learning centers. Behind the one in Clermont-Ferrand is Caroline Voute, a French woman who had moved to the United States. Back in France, she discovered the network in Lyon where she registered her son. She immediately liked the concept: the teachers were all native speakers, the sessions were in the form of a game, and all the courses were adapted according to age and level. If the prices seem a bit high, the results are there.

Adventure, togetherness, sharing and adaptability are the watchwords of this proven organization. In operation for 40 years, Sans Frontières specializes in educational travel for young people aged 8 to 25. The aim: to learn how to travel, and to learn by traveling! The destination visited is a valuable educational tool to help young people "grow up". The program includes geography, history, geopolitics, etc., all in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, they learn about group life and respect for others, as well as meeting other young people and locals. So it's not so much the destination itself that's at stake, but the way it's approached that seems essential here. The choice of stays, mainly itinerant, is extremely varied.

Destinations covered : Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, United States, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Swaziland, Tanzania, Czech Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Venezuela and Vietnam.