On July 3, the day after the 11the The National Day for Equality and Diversity Initiatives in Higher Education and Research—organized by the MESRE, CPED, and the institutional conferences—was held Chapter 34e CPED Meetings At the’Bordeaux University. Around a hundred members of equality and diversity departments from public institutions were present.
The day began with remarks by Véronique Van De Bor, president of CPED, to kick off this new edition of the Rencontres, whose theme is the expansion of equality and diversity missions.
An update on the latest developments and outlook for CPED was first presented:
- Lucille Marissal, project manager, and Hermeline Pernoud, a member of the CPED board of directors, began by reviewing the Parenting Working Group to summarize its work and present the resources it had produced,
- Florence Françon, a member of the CPED Board of Directors, provided a recap of the advanced training session on intersectional discrimination in higher education and research.
- Lisanne Tremblay, project manager at REFEDI, presented the International Francophone Network of Higher Education and Research for EDI and its activities.
- Lucille Marissal presented CPED’s new training program, as VSS-Formation has not existed since the 1stare July 2026.
- Nicolas Bourbon, a member of the CPED executive committee, discussed the results of the CPED perception survey.
- Sarah Boratav, a member of the CPED executive board, and Lucille Marissal finally presented a new resource—still in production and scheduled for release at the start of the school year—that includes two awareness videos and a poster on hazing.
This day was also an opportunity to highlight the CPED thesis prize 2025. Christine Morin-Messabel, a professor of social psychology at Lumières University Lyon 2, presented the award winner: Beatrice Steinberg, Associate Professor at Paris 8 University, for her thesis in psychology, entitled «Sociocognitive processes involved in intersectional invisibility: the role of perceived incongruence between identities.».
The call for nominations for the CPED 2026 Thesis Award has officially been launched.
Two round tables, hosted by Claire Berthonneau, a member of the board, and Claire Lambard, a member of the executive board, questioned both the best practices in addressing all forms of discrimination And how Investigate discrimination in higher education and research.
This initial exchange highlighted two topics that have been little addressed in higher education and research, namely fatphobia and the ableism :
Manon Castel, coordinator of the gender equality and anti-discrimination mission at the University of Toulouse, presented the university's actions against fatphobia. Among them: an exhibition showcasing lived experiences of fatphobia by students and staff (2025), a awareness campaign about microaggressions including a poster dedicated to fatphobia (2023), the purchase of more inclusive chairs, a guide to communication without stereotypes inviting, for example, not to reduce representations of fat people to passive postures or those related to food, as well as the distribution of plus-size menstrual underwear since 2021, to combat menstrual poverty.
Marine Delmotte, project manager for gender equality and combating discrimination at Université Grenoble Alpes, and Clémentine Zill, member of the association Les Dévalideuses, jointly presented ableism and ways to combat this discrimination. The association primarily works to amplify the voices of women and gender minorities with disabilities and to promote a French «crip culture.» Marine Delmotte presented the actions taken at Université Grenoble Alpes: in March, a month of equality with sessions dedicated to ableism, including a conference on neurodevelopment and a gestural conference on anti-ableism. This event led to the creation of a working group tasked with producing a documentary sheet on anti-ableism at UGA. An exhibition project on the subject is also planned for 2027.
The second exchange session allowed for an update on various ongoing investigations, as well as on the tools available to project managers for conducting investigations in their respective institutions.
Louise Bourgoin, Development and Animation Officer for the National Observatory on Discrimination and Equality in Higher Education (ONDES), presented the feedback from the’investigation evidence on Violence and Discrimination in Higher Education. Still ongoing, the 1era This survey was conducted across 7 institutions and 1 student network, representing over 4,000 questionnaire responses – a questionnaire adaptable to the specificities of each institution.
Zo Michels, project manager at the LGBTQI+ Chair, presented the results of Working group «Investigating LGBTQI+phobias in Higher Education and Research». As part of the national plan for equality, against hatred, and anti-LGBT discrimination of the MESRE, a guide of recommendations on how to measure LGBTQI+phobias in higher education and research has been produced.
Camille Gillet, a doctor of sociology at Sciences Po, presented the’INTER-VSS Survey. This aims to provide a better understanding of the diversity of initiatives undertaken in the fight against SVDs in higher education and research. The survey targets all individuals who have implemented SVD prevention actions in their institution since 2024.
Finally, small group discussion times were then offered to participants. Five main issues could be addressed, including:
- The role of the university in addressing the challenges of racism and antisemitism
- Conventions and Partnerships
- Which organizations for whistleblower cells following the Levy Law?
- Facilitate an EDI ambassador network within your institution
- Raising awareness among selection committees.
These discussion moments provided an opportunity for the equality and diversity officers to share the obstacles and questions encountered in their roles, as well as their successes and the levers they can mobilize.
It was a rich and eventful day, marked by discussions among CPED members and moderated by Aude Stheneur, Executive Director of CPED. A big thank you to everyone who helped organize this event!