Duration
5 days
Training structure
Continuing Education Department, Faculty of Science
Presentation
This University Diploma enables students to acquire and/or update the theoretical and practical knowledge required for the design, evaluation, and implementation of restoration actions for small coastal seabeds in the Mediterranean.
The advantages of the training program
- Knowledge that can be directly applied in the workplace
- Maximum of 21 learners
- Teaching in French
- Scientific fundamentals + concrete case studies + real-world and/or in situ studies
- Suggestions for reading and visits/outings (outside of training)
- Teachers who complement each other through their experience: scientific fundamentals provided by academics, professional experience passed on by non-academic partners and stakeholders and companies involved in ecological restoration.
Objectives
- Know the definition of ecological restoration and its principles
- Learn about existing ecological restoration methods in marine environments
- Understanding the regulatory framework (Marine Strategy Framework Directive, difference with the "avoid-reduce-compensate" sequence, permit applications)
- Understanding the limits of ecological restoration
- Be able to build a case to convince a project owner to undertake an ecological restoration project.
- Being able to position ecological restoration in relation to other coastal and marine management tools such as pollution control and non-degradation.
- Be able to propose and implement a restoration project in a marine environment
- Be able to critically evaluate a restoration project
- Being able to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration measures
Program
Training session:
- March 9 to 13, 2026: in-person classes
- Remote tutoring
- Exam in June 2026 (date to be announced)
Program
Module 1 (5 days of attendance):
- Ecological restoration of coastal shallow waters: definition and principle + reminder
Mediterranean ecology - Ecological restoration policies, complementarity, and regulation
- Assessment of target achievement and ecological effectiveness
- Actors involved in ecological restoration and their prerogatives
- Artificial reefs, a good solution?
- Restoration of marine plant communities (angiosperms, macroalgae)
- Restoration of coralligenous habitats and corals
- Restauration sizing and performance evaluation (Roundtable)
- Group work on concrete cases (5 x 4 students)
- Restoration of nursery functions in port areas
- Ecological restoration and biomimicry
- Restoration of movable property
- Economic and financial issues
- Meeting with stakeholders and specialized companies
- Overview of other actions and specific cases
- Presentation and discussion of specific cases, self-assessment and peer assessment.
Module 2: Writing the thesis (supervised personal work)
During this module, each learner will be required to study a particular system based
on a real-life case study. They will be required to produce a reflective essay and summary on
a restoration method that is subject to controversy or uncertainty (e.g., use
of artificial reefs, restoration of soft habitats, evaluation of existing restoration projects
, shipwreck immersion, species transplantation, etc.). This case study
will result in the production of a written report, an oral presentation, and a debate with
professionals from different fields.
Module 3 (1 day of attendance in June, remote learning acceptable)
- Presentation of trainees' case studies
- Discussion with experts, Q&A, feedback on the university diploma
The aim is to critically analyze and discuss each of the case studies.
Admission
Admission requirements
BAC+2 (two years of postsecondary education) and at least three years of professional experience, or ≥ BAC+4 (four years of postsecondary education) currently in progress.
Training in environmental studies.
Registration procedures
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter specifying your expectations for this training program and how it fits in with your career plans to the following address: sfc-fds @ umontpellier.fr
The selection of students will be carried out by a jury composed of one representative from the University of Montpellier, one representative from the University of Perpignan, and one representative from the professional world.
Given equivalent academic results, career plans will be given priority in the selection process.
The university diploma program cannot accept fewer than 10 students or more than 21.
And after
Continuing education
The aim is to enable learners to respond to requests for ecological restoration as service providers, contractors, or researchers.
These roles appear in the following professions:
- Research engineer
- Community leader
- Project manager in an engineering firm
- Natural Area Manager
- Technical agent
- Researcher in a design office