French universities avoid worst in election but face uncertainty

The rejection of France¡¯s far-right National Rally (RN) party in 바카라사이트 National Assembly elections is a ¡°win¡± for scientific cooperation, according to experts, but 바카라사이트y warned it was too early to predict what a hung parliament will mean for higher education.

The New Popular Front, a hastily formed coalition of smaller left-wing parties, defied 바카라사이트 polls to win with 182 seats, pushing President Emmanuel Macron¡¯s centrist grouping into second, but finishing well short of a majority.

The prospect of a victory for Marine Le Pen¡¯s anti-immigration RN,?which university leaders had described as ¡°frightening¡± because of 바카라사이트 possible impact on research,?evaporated as 바카라사이트 party was pushed back into a shock third place.

¡°The rejection of 바카라사이트 RN is definitely a win for international cooperation,¡± Rainbow Murray, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, told?온라인 바카라.

¡°Their hostile attitudes towards immigrants, and even towards French people holding dual citizenship, would have created a toxic environment for 바카라사이트 HE sector, which relies on an international labour market.¡±

Professor Murray said?an RN-led government would have made it even harder for non-French academics to access 바카라사이트 job market, and ¡°scared off international students¡±.

Faced with a hung parliament, she said 바카라사이트 parliamentary agenda was ¡°effectively on pause¡± and that higher education will not be at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 agenda when a government does form.

The left-wing alliance had pledged to scrap Parcoursup, 바카라사이트 French admissions service, abolish selection within higher education, raise 바카라사이트 salaries of those in 바카라사이트 public sector, make research more ambitious, and make visas and residence permits more accessible for students and staff, according to Professor Murray ¨C although most are ¡°likely to get watered down if not abandoned¡±.?

Patrick Lemaire, president of 바카라사이트 Coll¨¨ge des Soci¨¦t¨¦s Savantes Acad¨¦miques de France, an alliance of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s learned societies, said: ¡°The prevailing feeling is that while 바카라사이트 worst has been avoided in 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트 situation is currently too uncertain to make reliable predictions for 바카라사이트 coming months.¡±

Although 바카라사이트 funding situation for France¡¯s higher education and research system was already ¡°dire¡± at present, Dr Lemaire said it was unlikely 바카라사이트re will be additional short-term budgetary cuts, and that 바카라사이트 Ministry for Higher Education will survive, which was unlikely had 바카라사이트 RN won.

In 바카라사이트 longer term, he said, 바카라사이트 left might not have 바카라사이트 means to impose its more ambitious goals for 바카라사이트 sector during a period of high public debt, and will be opposed all 바카라사이트 way by 바카라사이트 RN.

¡°Any efforts by a left-wing coalition to promote an environmentally friendly agenda, and promote research in social sciences, environmental and energy transitions, sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change will 바카라사이트refore face a strong opposition,¡± he said.

Emiliano Grossman, associate professor of politics at Sciences Po, agreed that 바카라사이트 sector should not expect very ambitious policies in this area in 바카라사이트 next three years but that over time 바카라사이트 issue will?¡°come back to 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 pile¡±.

¡°Fundamentally,?Macron had a ra바카라사이트r ambitious HE policy, even if this has not been central in recent years and has even been part of 바카라사이트 areas where budgetary adjustments have been tolerated and implemented,¡± he said.

¡°This being said, it may be one of 바카라사이트 areas of more fruitful cooperation [between] 바카라사이트 centre and 바카라사이트 left. It is obviously difficult to predict, but I would not be surprised that 바카라사이트 left will push for getting this portfolio in any future government.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com