Nice Premium went to meet the secretary of the association, Nathalie Audin, who talks to us about the Université Populaire des Alpes Maritimes which has become popular both among speakers and students—whether temporary or not!
But UPAM does not stop at reality; the exchanges continue virtually on the dedicated blog: universitepopulaire06.blogspot.com
Nice Premium: Why was a people’s university created?
UPAM: We have entered the century of knowledge, a knowledge that is making tremendous progress every day and needs to be heard, discussed, and challenged to be forged, rooted, and expanded. Knowledge that requires vigilant innovation.
Our fragmented, segregative society needs places for exchanges rooted in knowledge to avoid sinking into obscurantism or mere chit-chat.
Through these debates, we wish to express and anchor the values we hold dear: respect, humanism, freedom, fraternity, justice, democracy, human rights…
This is why, following what Michel Onfray has achieved in Caen, along with a few friends, we are launching the association Université Populaire des Alpes-Maritimes.
NP: What exactly is UPAM?
UPAM: It’s a non-profit association under the 1901 law whose members pay a subscription to cover minor expenses. The founding members come from very diverse backgrounds, including private sector employees, retirees, public servants, teachers, and non-employed family providers.
It organizes debates with academic speakers or recognized experts.
We have unanimously chosen the principle of free access:
– Academic speakers or researchers volunteer their time
– Attendance at conferences is completely free and without any prerequisites. We welcome youth, elderly, executives, workers, retirees, graduates, non-graduates, mothers… The important thing is to be ready to learn, discover, and exchange without any complexes.
Starting from the next school year, an annual program will be proposed.
Those interested can find announcements of meetings and session minutes on the UP 06 blog: universitepopulaire06.blogspot.com
This is another place to continue discussions with speakers or among participants, but also to engage in reflection with those who could not attend.
NP: Where are the conferences or course cycles of the UPAM organized?
UPAM: Across all the municipalities of the Alpes Maritimes depending on the availability of free venues and facilities. We would especially like to thank Espace Magnan and the Social and Cultural Center “Bon Voyage” for their contribution to our initial interventions.
To date, we have held:
– 3 sessions on “The history of the city” by Fabrice De Coupigny from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
– 1 session on “Consumer rights” by Marc Concas, lawyer
– 1 session on “The Economics of Information and Communication” by Stéphane N’Go Maï from the University of Nice
NP: What is the upcoming news from UPAM?
UPAM: We are pleased to announce the lecture by Professor Robert CHARVIN, which will take place on May 24 at 7:45 pm at the Bon Voyage Social and Cultural Center, 2, Pont René Coty, 06300, Nice – 04 93 89 28 02) with the theme “Discrimination is thriving.”
A summary of his intervention will be available on universitepopulaire06.blogspot.com. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
