Higher education has been a tradition in Montpellier ever since the founding of the first European faculty of medicine here in the 12th century. Its three universities and grandes écoles (institutes of higher education) have places for 60,000 (meaning one inhabitant in four is a student).
CODIGE (Conférence des Directeurs des Grandes Ecoles) is a combination of the Montpellier Sup de Co Group and the top engineering schools of the Languedoc-Roussillon: ENSAM (Agriculture Montpellier), CNEARC (tropical agronomy), ISIM (Science and technology), CNAM, ENSCM (chemistry) and EMA (Alès school of mining).
Montpellier's international reputation for teaching and research is a great attraction for young executives and researchers who come here to join their 8000 colleague.
Economic dynamism
Montpellier a développé une économie qui repose sur les services et les Nouvelles Technologies. En accueillant des entreprises telles qu'IBM, Dell Computer et de nombreuses start-up, Montpellier est devenue une "Silicon Valley" européenne.
Montpellier has developed an economy based on services and new technologies. With companies like IBM, Dell Computers and many start-ups, Montpellier is by way of being a European Silicon Valley.
Like the town, which has one of the fastest growing populations in France, the Languedoc-Roussillon region also has the highest rate of growth and is first in France for new business creation.
The pleasant Mediterranean way of life
With its wealth of cultural activities, the beauty of its architecture and the youth of its population, Montpellier is a gem of a town by the Mediterranean sea. The Languedoc-Roussillon is a region of many facets extending from the Camargue to the foothills of the Massif Central with its Cathar cities, Roman archaeological sites and coastline of endless beaches.
Such a rich environment could not fail to make Montpellier one of the most pleasant towns in the south, so it's no surprise to learn that an IPSOS poll (February 2000) showed it was the town the French prefer !
