The FOPES programme is aimed at university training in agents of change in economic and social domains. Focus is therefore placed on the scientific quality and the capacity to develop economic politics and social alternatives alike. This orientation towards action leads to a maximum linking of the study programme with professional or social experience. This implies, as far as the pedagogical methods are concerned, according special attention to the central role played by the student as being a responsible agent in his own learning.

This FOPES orientation addresses adults who have not had the possibility to undertake university studies in the regular way and who do not necessarily hold an access diploma for the "licence". It addresses people involved principally in economic and social development problems (employment, territory reorganisation, project management) or socio-cultural problems (popular education, literacy, education, etc). To qualify for admission, the student must possess sufficient capacities and knowledge and several years of experience in development projects. This FOPES orientation targets people concerned by the development of Central and Western Africa. Completion of previous studies must already date back several years. A jury examines each application for admission and deliberates each and every single case. It validates professional experiences and personal assets further to the evaluation procedure organised to verify if the student's capabilities and knowledge are sufficient to successfully accomplish the study programme.

All the while responding to the access conditions and admission procedures, almost identical to the other programme groups, the students of this orientation are admitted on the basis of thei commitment and their professional experience in the Third World.

The admission procedure for the FOPES programme is rather long, but aims to optimalise the student's chances of success during the studies by taking into account the special particularities of the target public. The admission exams and the orientation interview take place in Africa, two years prior to the beginning of the study cycle. The people concerned are informed in, good time.

This programme lasts two years and takes place during the day on week days. The students enrolled for this orientation are requested to follow 945 hours in total, divided into 480 hours of courses (including 240 hours of group options ).

In addition, the students from this section will have to choose optional courses : 240 hours, including 120 hours of options chosen by the group and 120 hours of options chosen on an individual basis. The courses presented for group choice are those from the DVLP programmes. The courses presented for individual choice will be selected from the DVLP programmes or any other UCL programme depending on the needs of each student. These choices will be submitted for approval by the FOPES Council..

So as to give the student a central role, formative evaluation is by no means neglible in the FOPES programme. The courses also conclude by means of a certificative evaluation, the responsibility of which is left up to the lecturer. The totality of the study year is evaluated by the group council, composed of students, a professor-coordinator, a study advisor and a director or his delegate. The global management of the different aspects of the evaluation is entrusted to the study advisor.

The "Licence"diploma in Economic and Social Politics is delivered regularly by the Catholic University of Louvain. It validates a basic second cycle university training programme on the lines of the decree concerning academic certificates of the French-speaking Community in Belgium. At the end of the studies, the students will take up their activities in terms of development projects by very often assuming new responsibilities.