The 5 founding members of Normandie Université, the universities of Caen Basse-Normandie, Le Havre and Rouen, and the two engineering schools ENSICAEN and INSA in Rouen, have been developing interregional collaborations in training and research for many years.
After deliberation by the Board of Directors on 28 November 2012, 11 associate member establishments have just joined them to complement and enhance this collaboration: ESIGELEC, ESITPA, EI CESI Nord Ouest, ESITC Caen, ISPA Alençon, Cnam Basse-Normandie, Cnam Haute-Normandie, École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Normandie, École Supérieure d'Art et Design Le Havre-Rouen, École Supérieure d'Arts et Médias de Caen/Cherbourg and Institut du Développement Social.
The higher education and research clusters (PRES) enable universities, grandes écoles and research organisations to harmonise their various schemes and pool their activities and resources.
The aim is to provide a more consistent, clearer research and training offer which is better adapted to the needs of the different territories. In September 2012, there were 26 PRES.
The PRES are designed to be a promotional instrument for the member establishments. They are also a way of being involved in international scientific competition.