Reflecting on the university's values led to a discussion about its identity and representations, "a distinctive character." This focused on the name used, the logo, and its variations. The general idea was to preserve the roots while enriching them.
Without wishing to rank them, the values defined were as follows:
- Loyalty to its history, territory, and culture, as well as openness to others, in a cross-border (Switzerland, Italy), European, and international context.
- A taste for individual effort and a job well done, as well as responsible collective ambition, attention to democratic life and transparency in decision-making, a choice to share knowledge and show solidarity, and respect for people and the environment.
- Humanism and openness to the community, leading to a perception of oneself as an active participant in one's local ecosystem, with a desire to help develop responses to societal challenges.
- The preservation of freedoms, independence of thought, and critical thinking, which are the sources of intellectual creativity and cultural, economic, and social innovation.
The name Université de Savoie (UdS) had a traditional image, limited to a single department. Enriching the name with "Savoie Mont Blanc" made it possible to cover the two departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie by using a brand that was in the process of being developed. It also reinforced the identity with the reference to the "roof of Europe," known throughout the world. By changing the words, we changed the perception of reality.
The logo has been redesigned with a view to simplifying and improving the readability of the graphic charter.