“I thought I would be enrolled in master 1 at the University of Paris Est Créteil (Upec). But in the university board that displays our schedule, our training is shown under another title. » From the first week of classes, Marie
had doubts about the training he had just taken.
He didn’t know it yet, but in reality, the young student had undergone training at the Makers factory, a private company, whose training was not recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education so it did not lead to a master’s degree.
An investigation carried out by the association of Representatives of Social Sciences Students (Ares) published on November 18 revealed that Marie, like 68 other students, was enrolled in a course for which she had not applied: on the Mon Master platform, the student had in fact submitted her application for a master’s degree from IAE Paris Est, attached to Upec.
“We were told that we were not registered at the university”
In April, during the file analysis period, he received an email and was invited for an interview. “The procedure was normal, I didn’t suspect anything. Moreover, the teacher who conducted the interview was one of the people in charge of the master’s program at Upec. It was during the interview that he directed me to another master’s program, explaining to me that it would be more consistent for my career. »
Married
“When we returned to Upec, we were told that we were not registered at the university. However, those in charge of the training assured us that we were indeed doing a master’s degree at Upec. When she was not working, every Thursday and Friday, the young girl went to classes on the university site. But in the room organization table, the student was shown to attend training other than hers. Finally, although the young girl’s work-study contract included the logo of the Maker Factory and Upec, that is, the university logo disappeared on the school certificate. “I immediately realized that I had been cheated,” complained Marie.
However, the school is not a classic private school, but rather the commercial brand CFA, created in the form of a society based on a law of 1901. “The RNCP title that the Maker Factory claims to have is actually linked to this CFA,” explains Inès Janati Idrissi, head of the Ares student association. And if at certain private schools the meetings are normal, then the way students are registered is less so.
“To contact the 69 students, the Makers Factory management must have access to a list of candidates, perhaps as speakers at this master’s degree,” said Inès Janati Idrissi. But the data constitutes misuse of data used without explicit consent to recruit students in private schools, outside any official framework. »
A partnership project between Upec and The Makers Factory
Marc L.
who runs the school, is a former master’s student at IAE Paris Est, and 2 master’s students. With an email address from the university, “he was therefore able to book a room, without the administration knowing that it was for the promotion of the Maker’s Factory”, says Inès Janati Idrissi: “In addition, we were told that there had been talks about a partnership between the university and the private school in April 2025 but this has not materialized at the moment. »
Information that Marc L. This former Upec student denies shows that he remains in touch with the university, especially through the training he took. In this context, a partnership reflection was born: “I discussed with several components, including the IAE which refused and the AEI-International school which was interested. We thought about creating a joint diploma whose title would change but would open at the beginning of the 2025 academic year. I have written permission to recruit students. »
However, the businessman assured, the new president of Upec, elected on October 3, was not aware of this new partnership. The project was behind schedule due to the selection of a new management team, “the students were not able to integrate the M1 planned initially. Therefore, I relied on the training offered by the Manufacturing Factory, in Business Management, explaining to them that the transition to Upec would be made for the M2. In other words, they would indeed have a university degree. »
Asked about the recruitment framework of candidates who initially apply for a master’s degree at IAE, a component that is not affected by this partnership, Marc L. assured that “this process is carried out in accordance with the university’s instructions. Usually, in certain highly selective courses, students who do not have the prerequisites are offered other courses, always within the university. »Assuring him that worried students should be reassured.
An administrative investigation was launched and the court confiscated
When contacted, Upec indicated that “pending the conclusion of the administrative investigation, the university is unable to comment.” “We notified the university by sending them our investigation. The discussions we had with the presidency showed that they were not aware of this incident,” explained Inès Janati Idrissi.
Ares added that it had contacted the Créteil public prosecutor. “This case is unprecedented, but it is not an isolated situation. It is true, private non-profit training courses manipulate and lie to students. » Moreover, Marie explained, on the advice of those close to her, that she filed a complaint against others from her training.
For students, for more than two months, evenings have become complicated. “I’m worried about the future and what will happen. I’m afraid of losing the work-study program that I really like, but I want a recognized master’s degree. » The university wants to provide reassurance to its disadvantaged students: “In the coming days, communications will be made to them, along with an administrative investigation, to find out how we can follow up on their situation, with the aim of ensuring continuity of education for them. »First name has been changed
