Alerted by global warming due to the greenhouse effect, AMU founded a Climate Council in 2020, made up of university scientists and experts from civil society. This commitment to ecology – initiated since the merger – enabled it to rank 20th in the Times Higher Education University Impact Ranking in 2020 and 12th in the world on the MDG 7 « clean and affordable energy ». In 2021, within the framework of the recovery plan announced by the government, a budget of 61.1 million euros has been allocated to finance 10 projects. A portion will be dedicated to rehabilitation and another to energy efficiency. The stated objectives are to make the campuses much more comfortable for its students in the short term and to reduce its energy consumption by 60% by 2050. Let’s go!

Since its creation, AMU has been conscious of the society in which it evolves and of the future that it contributes every day to making, forging and inventing. On this principle, in 2013 it became a partner of the Etablissement Français du Sang (French Blood Establishment) with over 10,000 donations to date. In 2014, it launched its « Social Elevator » scheme to help young people from priority neighbourhoods gain access to higher education. Its equality mission in 2016 continued this work: to compensate for discrimination in the career paths of students from disadvantaged backgrounds by supporting their trajectories. Sensitive to the violence that has a negative impact on its young people, in 2016 it set up a system for reporting harassment, sexist, sexual and LGBTphobic violence. In 2020, aware that it is one of the most invested universities in terms of culture and assistance to those most in need, it persists and signs: its new signature, « socially committed », replaces that of « initiative of excellence », reflecting the resolutely social inflection of its policy. During the health crisis, under the impetus of its President and with the contribution of staff and students, aid was put in place: the search for emergency accommodation, computer assistance, the collection of foodstuffs and psychological support: all these initiatives helped to make this period more bearable. In 2022, the university inaugurated the Respect and Equality Service, a place to listen and report situations of violence and discrimination of all kinds. As for its student community, it is also heavily involved: the « Illuminate to Engage » awareness-raising campaign, an innovative multi-media campaign run by a student group, is designed to combat racism and anti-Semitism. A fraternity that AMU wanted to extend beyond the student period by creating a dynamic intergenerational socio-professional network: the alumni community bringing together graduates, students, staff and partners.

Young people are multiplying initiatives in favour of a better life together, which they take care to design on a daily basis. In 2020, AGORAé, a social and solidarity grocery shop, opened its doors in the Maison de l’Etudiant on the Canebière to fight against student poverty. This opening will be closely followed by its equivalent in Luminy in March 2021. Student solidarity has also manifested itself during major humanitarian crises. Following the deadly explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2021, student associations mobilised to help the population. At the same time, the university exempted Lebanese students from paying tuition fees and also offered the Lebanese university community support mechanisms and the delivery of materials to continue their academic activities. In 2022, the University was shocked and saddened to learn of the start of Russian military operations in Ukraine and took logistical, financial and psychological action to assist Ukrainian and Russian refugees, colleagues and students affected by the war.

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