A look back at the University’s 2026 formal opening ceremony

The day began with a meeting in the President’s office with Ms Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly and a graduate of the University of Toulouse Capitole, followed by a conference organised by the Students’ Parliament. It continued with the inauguration of the prestigious Gabriel Marty and Rosa Parks lecture theatres, as well as the planting of a tree accompanied by the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Ms Yaël Braun-Pivet.

At 5.20 pm, the official procession entered the Despax Amphitheatre. The ceremony began with a performance by the Toulouse Student Symphony Orchestra (OSET), followed by a welcome address delivered by students on the Master’s in Tax Law programme in more than 13 languages. Several distinguished guests were also in attendance: Mr Fabrice Rigoulet-Roze, Prefect of Haute-Garonne and the Occitanie region; Ms Carole Drucker-Godard, Rector of the Montpellier Academy and the Occitanie academic region; and Mr Jean-Luc Moudenc, Mayor of Toulouse and President of Toulouse Métropole.
 

 
 

In his opening address, President Hugues Kenfack welcomed Yaël Braun-Pivet, a graduate of the Master 2 in Business Law, specialising in Corporate Law, a course she undertook as part of her return to higher education. He also spoke of the journey of Marjorie Mayans, a former graduate and international rugby player, highlighting the role alumni play in raising the University’s profile and the lasting bond that ties them to their alma mater.

 A place where people come, learn, leave, return and reinvent themselves before going on to put that training and those high standards to work for society
Hugues Kenfack, UT Capitole President

The President then outlined the main challenges facing Toulouse Capitole: its transformation into a ‘grand établissement’, autonomy, its economic model, excellence in research and teaching, artificial intelligence and campus development. He also reaffirmed the University’s commitment to equal opportunities, academic freedom and international openness, as well as its rejection of all forms of racism and discrimination.
 

A former student at the Toulouse Capitole University, Yaël Braun-Pivet spoke of her return to the institution where she obtained her Master 2 in Business Law. She emphasised the university’s role in intellectual emancipation and personal fulfilment, before placing her speech within the context of Toulouse’s 800-year academic history and highlighting, in particular, the figure of Jean Jaurès.

Addressing young people, the President of the National Assembly called for a relationship based on trust and boldness, and emphasised the collective responsibility to empower young people to build their own futures. She also encouraged students to take their place in society and reiterated her commitment to gender equality and to combating gender-based and sexual violence.
 

Following on from the speeches by President Hugues Kenfack and Yaël Braun-Pivet, the ceremony centred on three key areas that embody the ambitions of the Toulouse Capitole University: its international outlook, its ability to bring together different disciplines, and its commitment to serving society.

The Alumni network’s tenth anniversary was celebrated with speeches by Jean-Luc Moudenc and Marjorie Mayans, as well as by graduates with international careers, including Cho Hyun, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Korea, and Guillaume Poisson, Head of Operations at UEFA. The presentation on the ENGAGE.EU network and international relations highlighted Toulouse Capitole’s commitment to exchanges, dual degrees and international academic cooperation.

Research was showcased through four projects focusing on key issues: responsible finance, defence and aerospace, climate change, and the rule of law in Europe. Presented by Catherine Casamatta, Florent Pouponneau, Alice Mugnier and Zoé Jacquemin, these projects illustrate the University’s wealth of expertise and its ability to bring together different disciplines to address major contemporary challenges.

Student engagement was exemplified by the TO CEAVE association, which works to listen to and support students facing violence, discrimination, or emotional distress. The ceremony also featured the presentation of the Palmes Académiques to several members of the university community, followed by a segment dedicated to 800 years of history and tradition. This segment honored the figures who have shaped the institution, highlighted through the example of Eugène Poubelle, a former professor of law at the University of Toulouse, as presented by Marcel Marty.