Colette, soon 91 years, doctor of geography, marked “very honorable” – Le Point

At the end of its defense, in the grand salon of the Faculty of Humanities of Besançon, under the portrait of Louis XIV, the mayor of the town came to honor this student not quite as others. Colette Bourlier, born April 3, 1925 in Lyon, which will have 91 years in two short weeks, accessed on Tuesday under doctor of geography, with a “very honorable”.

For more than two hours, this former teacher became professor of history and geography in the 50s presented the work of her thesis was “immigrant workers in Besançon in the second half of the twentieth century.” “I did the best I could, and I think the jury was satisfied,” said the old lady, before confiding: “But I am hard of hearing and I have not heard all that ‘he said. “

The student is exceptional, his works are too. They have lasted thirty years and have been directed by three supervisors. One possibility offered by its applied research degree (DRA), obtained in 1985 a degree now disappeared and that allowed people outside the academic world of a thesis without time limit. The 400 pages of the book are in addition many paintings handwritten. The young “doctor” knows nothing about the computer and still less to the Internet.

A real background

Since she retired in 1983, this adoption of Franche-Comte has continued to work on the issue of migrant workers in the former watchmaking capital. The specificities of different nationalities on the reception given to them on their participation in the local economy. A population she sees from the 60 participating itself at the reception and literacy of newcomers, including women. “This is one of the specificities of this work, access to an experienced and a feeling, even if she speaks relatively little. There is a real background, “says Jacques Fontaine, his second thesis director, now retired but who came to support his students

It does not say enough.” The Right Honourable mention reward the quality of form and substance. This work is very well written, which is relatively rare. In substance, it is the amount of statistical data and analytical fineness. “Serge Ormaux, the last of three supervisors, confirms. “The thesis of Colette Bourlier must be on the subject of immigration in Besancon. Already, we think of a scientific publication. This work is of geography but also of economics, sociology, history, political science. It is very interdisciplinary. “