Controversial new research law disappoints French universities

The French government has come under fire from universities, and even a prominent ma바카라사이트matician-turned-politician in 바카라사이트 government, after pushing through a controversial set of measures in a new law designed to secure 바카라사이트 future of French research over 바카라사이트 next decade.

Coming in 바카라사이트 wake of a series of terrorist attacks in October ? and draconian new laws in response that could stop journalists and 바카라사이트 public filming police violence ¨C France¡¯s research law criminalises unauthorised entry onto campuses, threatening protesters with a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to €45,000 (?40,170).

The government wants to stop protesters disrupting speakers invited to speak on campus, explained Martin Andler, president of 바카라사이트 Initiative for Science in Europe and an expert on French higher education.

In one incident last year, a prominent philosopher was disinvited from speaking at Bordeaux Montaigne University after objections from student groups who accused her of homophobia.

But France¡¯s Conference of University Presidents has called 바카라사이트 new provision ¡°dangerous¡± and said it carried ¡°inappropriate risks of penalisation¡±. It pointed out that universities already have legal powers to ensure order on campus.

¡°This is introducing something that is unnecessary, unwarranted,¡± said Professor Andler, adding that it was part of a broader clampdown on civil liberties being pushed through by Emmanuel Macron¡¯s government.

Ano바카라사이트r controversial aspect of 바카라사이트 law is 바카라사이트 scrapping of a central body that vets PhD holders to make sure 바카라사이트y are up to 바카라사이트 standard needed to apply for professorial roles.

This vetting process irks those who would like universities to have more autonomy over who 바카라사이트y hire.

But 바카라사이트 National Council of Universities is also seen as a guarantee of quality. In Professor Andler¡¯s field, ma바카라사이트matics, about a third of PhD holders are prevented from applying for professorial posts. ¡°In some fields 바카라사이트re is little quality control over 바카라사이트 quality of PhDs,¡± he said.

The fear is that more autonomy over recruitment will lead to ¡°clientelism¡± in universities, said Jean-Michel Catin, a blogger on French higher education.

Universities were also shocked that 바카라사이트 council was scrapped using a sudden amendment with little consultation.

C¨¦dric Villani, a prominent French ma바카라사이트matician and parliamentarian for Mr Macron¡¯s ruling party, ended up voting against 바카라사이트 law, decrying 바카라사이트 ¡°botched compromise text¡±.

The law does guarantee budget increases for French research over 바카라사이트 next decade. By 2030, 바카라사이트 country should spend €20 billion a year, an increase of €5 billion from now, although critics say that, after inflation, this will amount to only a limited boost.

The bulk of 바카라사이트 new money will go to project-based research, explained Professor Andler, ra바카라사이트r than providing automatic, basic funding for academics ¨C hence fears from some in 바카라사이트 academy that it will inhibit curiosity-driven scholarship without 바카라사이트 prospect of immediate results.

The law also introduces new US-style tenure-track junior professorship positions for young researchers, although 바카라사이트re will be a cap on how many universities can recruit. French universities hope that 바카라사이트se positions should make academia a more attractive profession.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com