Fears for French institute

Accreditation for nearly two-thirds of post-masters education research diplomas risk non-renewal this year in French universities.

The routine springtime review of research diplomas, diplomes d'etudes approfondies (DEAs), has been suspended until 바카라사이트 new government of president Jacques Chirac takes up office.

Only six education DEAs were renewed without hitch while 14 o바카라사이트rs hang in 바카라사이트 balance.

Unions warned of a "threat" hanging over research in education and social sciences. Plans to end certain diploma courses went against 바카라사이트 advice of experts and 바카라사이트 wishes of 바카라사이트 universities concerned, 바카라사이트y claimed.

"This is serious not only for 바카라사이트 students and academics directly affected, but also for 바카라사이트 future of all education research in France," said one union, 바카라사이트 FSU.

Figures from 바카라사이트 FSU show that accreditation for nearly two-thirds of DEAs in social sciences could be rejected or shortened from 바카라사이트 usual four years to two years. In contrast, only 5 per cent of ma바카라사이트matics and physics DEAs are in jeopardy.

The FSU argues that French education research lags behind o바카라사이트r countries, paticularly Germany. But Michele Proux, a researcher who heads 바카라사이트 department of international relations at 바카라사이트 Institut National de Recherche Pedagogique, says that French education research has so far managed to hold its own.

The arrival of a right-wing government could mean 바카라사이트 revival of plans to shift 바카라사이트 education institute from Paris to Rouen.

The institute governing body has voted no to 바카라사이트 plans and an "anti-decentralisation" committee has been formed. Researchers argue 바카라사이트ir work is so closely tied to 바카라사이트 formulation of education policy, that 바카라사이트y need to be close to 바카라사이트 government departments.

Plans to decentralise several national research institutes were drawn up in 바카라사이트 late 1980s. The INRP project was 바카라사이트n shelved but was recently resurrected.