The OpenLab ESPOIR project is a third-place initiative offering an innovative educational approach to promote academic success and professional integration for students facing precarious situations. This project is groundbreaking: no French university has such an OpenLab. The OpenLab ESPOIR represents a new phase in the development of initiatives by the Commission de Solidarité Étudiante (CSE), focused on addressing various aspects of student vulnerability (e.g., food, housing, health, clothing). It is organized around three main axes:
- Academic support for university success with personalized educational follow-up (integrated and multidisciplinary assessments, academic support), tutoring and mentoring, as well as training for students and involved actors (university staff and engaged citizens).
- Educational resources for university success, through a working space located close to the CSE and a resource center offering general or specialized educational materials.
- Professional development support, through a unique partnership between the CSE and various structures grouping companies and employers, creating a platform that will foster strong connections between students in precarious situations and the socio-economic world. This will facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and long-term job opportunities. The platform will also allow companies to discover these students in a different context.
Involved in the development and evaluation of this OpenLab, IREDU is the partner of the CSE of the University of Burgundy (uB) for a 3-year period starting in September 2024, with the support of the ANR through the NCU RITM-BFC program.