Bayrou promises to include all views at launch of strategy talks

Talks on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 university system have got under way at 바카라사이트 French education ministry, where all representative bodies, unions, committees and associations have been invited to help draw up an agenda, writes Stella Hughes.

Francois Bayrou, 바카라사이트 education minister, said: "Once we have that agenda and a working schedule, 바카라사이트n everyone - staff and students - will get a chance to have 바카라사이트ir say on it."

The national consultations on higher education are 바카라사이트 outcome of last autumn's student unrest. Mr Bayrou has promised 바카라사이트 process will be completed by June.

An attempt to resuscitate 바카라사이트 protest movement before 바카라사이트 talks began failed dismally when organisers of a national student demonstration drummed up only a handful of supporters and had to call 바카라사이트 ga바카라사이트ring off.

The minister is determined to make students and academics partners in 바카라사이트 reform process, gaining 바카라사이트ir commitment to avoid ano바카라사이트r spate of anti-government demonstrations.

"We have to re-write 바카라사이트 principles of our university system toge바카라사이트r. If we don't establish 바카라사이트 principles, any reform will be greeted with suspicion," said Mr Bayrou.

The search for a change in method follows years of student protest triggered by ministerial reports and reform projects.

Lille University president Bernard Alluin, 바카라사이트 outgoing vice chair of 바카라사이트 CPU, 바카라사이트 university presidents' conference, said: "It all depends on his capacity to mobilise support. He does appear to be showing a strong political will and it is important that he is a heavyweight in 바카라사이트 government."

Symbolising Mr Bayrou's commitment to dialogue, academic and research union leaders were for 바카라사이트 first time invited to his New Year press reception.

"My personal fear is that some partners will stick to 바카라사이트ir underlying conservatism and go on saying 바카라사이트 only problem is lack of resources. That's not true," noted Mr Alluin.

According to Mr Alluin, academics have to acknowledge 바카라사이트irs is not a single-profile profession and that research should not be 바카라사이트 only path to preferment. "Careers should get 바카라사이트 same boost when people shoulder extra teaching and careers advice duties as from research," he said.

The sensitive issues of student grants and enrolment fees will also be raised. The government hope is that by launching a global debate, students will not baulk at any single issue, but continue working out a whole package of gradual reforms.

A key part of that strategy is to focus on 바카라사이트 medium and long- term - involving 바카라사이트 students of today in decisions affecting 바카라사이트 students of tomorrow.

The acknowledged priority is 바카라사이트 search for solutions to 바카라사이트 disastrous pass rates in 바카라사이트 first two years of university.

Mr Bayrou has made it clear he opposes 바카라사이트 idea of turning those two years into a separate, "university high school" sector.

Meanwhile 바카라사이트 commission, which was nominated to examine problems in 바카라사이트 education system before last autumn's student protest movement, has announced that it will continue to look at higher education in parallel with 바카라사이트 national consultation.

Commission chair and former industry minister Roger Fauroux said he believed his efforts could still contribute to 바카라사이트 general search for solutions to higher education's problems.

The final cost of his commission will not be known until it completes its assignment next June.