The strengths of UPVD

With a history of more than 670 years, the University of Perpignan has gradually built its own identity and values based on the attributes of the territory where it is situated. On the scale of the Department of the Pyrénées-Orientales, the UPVD benefits from numerous sites or attributes around which it has developed multidisciplinary research and training, focused around Man in and with his environment.

The Pyrénées-Orientales Department is an ideal laboratory and a place for open-air study: the exceptional sunshine, the Pyrenean mountains, the nature reserves, the Mediterranean, the coastline, the lagoons, the natural and administrative borders crossed throughout history by deliberate or sudden migrations.

The UPVD has also developed strong themes throughout its various campuses: solar energy in Odeillo, marine sciences in Barcarès, sports sciences in Font-Romeu, rural tourism in Mende, town planning and real estate law in Narbonne and marketing techniques in Carcassonne.


Within this perimeter, exceptional research and training sites benefit from this foundation:

The Caune de l’Arago in Tautavel
Study of the evolution of the environment (climate, fauna, flora) and of mankind over the last 560,000 years.
The land-sea continuum:
Analysis of anthropogenic impacts on a complete hydrological complex ranging from 1800m altitude to the seafloor, including lagoons and coastline.
Nature reserves:
Understanding plant adaptation to climate change and the restoration of marine ecosystems.
The altitude and proximity of the National Altitude Training Centre (2024 Olympic Centre)
Analysis of its effect on human health and sports performance.
The coastline:
Coastal erosion monitoring, sustainable development, environmental law.
The Mediterranean Sea
Development of solutions for fisheries restoration and pollution, with a particular focus on plastics at sea, and the study of the Mediterranean culture.
Natural and/or administrative borders 
Monitoring of cultural and societal effects on intended and actual migration, past and present, changing notions of borders and cross-border in the European context.
Sunshine, the Great Solar Oven of Odeillo 
Study of renewable energies, specifically with respect to concentrated solar energy with equipment unique in the world such as the Odeillo Solar Grand Furnace (1MW of power, it can reach more than 3,000°C) or the Thémis pilot plant, solar chemistry, sustainable materials.
Tourism (largest concentration of campsites in Europe)
Analysis of the economic impact of tourism, imagining tomorrow's tourism, sustainable tourism.
The Saint Charles market (European leader in fruit and vegetables transport and logistics)
Economic and legal study of commercial exchanges..