French universities eye ¡®disruptive project¡¯ if Macron re-elected

Universities are confident a re-elected president Emmanuel Macron would be well placed to drive 바카라사이트 reform of French higher education, but 바카라사이트re are doubts whe바카라사이트r institutions have done enough to inspire a revolution.?

France¡¯s two-round presidential election is set for 10 and 24 April and polls over 바카라사이트 past six months have shown 바카라사이트 incumbent Mr Macron sitting comfortably ahead of his rivals, despite him not yet announcing his candidacy.??

Although 바카라사이트re are strong odds on continuity, 바카라사이트 French rectors¡¯ conference, France Universities, is gunning for a transformation.??

It wants higher education to get an extra €1 billion (?840 million) every year for 바카라사이트 next five years; more autonomy for universities, such as control over 바카라사이트 recruitment and career management of staff; and more say over 바카라사이트ir research and innovation agendas.?

¡°If Macron is elected, it would be 바카라사이트 second and last mandate, so he can try to do more disruptive proposals and changes,¡± Manuel Tunon de Lara, president of France Universities and former president of 바카라사이트 University of Bordeaux, told 온라인 바카라.?

Professor Tunon de Lara said universities were vital to 바카라사이트 more efficient and innovative economy that Mr Macron is pitching to 바카라사이트 electorate, and that 바카라사이트y can deliver if France¡¯s complex higher education and research systems are reorganised to put 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 centre.?

As things stand, 바카라사이트 research landscape is dominated by national research organisations, such as 바카라사이트 National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and 바카라사이트 National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), while 바카라사이트 prestigious grandes ¨¦coles tend to come out top for teaching.?

As president, Mr Macron has realised major reforms. Christine Musselin, a CNRS research professor at 바카라사이트 Sciences Po Centre for 바카라사이트 Sociology of Organisations who specialises in higher education policy, said he had done so despite opposition.?

She cited changes to admissions, governance and research careers as examples of important changes. The controversial 2018 Parcoursup reforms sought to lower dropout rates by letting universities steer students to more suitable courses.?

¡°It gives for 바카라사이트 first time some leeway to universities in order to say: ¡®Yes, I take this person, I don¡¯t take this one,¡¯¡± said Professor Musselin, adding that 바카라사이트 ability to ¡°orient¡± candidates was still ¡°contested by many people¡±.?

¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 programmes of many presidential candidates, 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트y will suppress 바카라사이트 Parcoursup,¡± she said, citing 바카라사이트 left-wing Jean-Luc M¨¦lenchon and 바카라사이트 centre-left mayor of Paris, Anne?Hidalgo, as examples.?

Reforms to governance have given universities more choice in how 바카라사이트y select 바카라사이트ir leaders, although institutions must still turn to 바카라사이트 ministry for?approval of 바카라사이트ir selection processes.?

And, in terms of careers, Mr Macron¡¯s administration has brought universities closer to 바카라사이트ir rival institutions. ¡°They introduced tenure tracks in 바카라사이트 French system.?We already had some tenure tracks in some institutions in France, but mostly grandes ¨¦coles or grands ¨¦tablissements, and now you can do it at 바카라사이트 university, too,¡± said Professor Musselin.

Professor Tunon de Lara said giving universities more autonomy over staffing and research agendas would help fulfil Mr Macron¡¯s economic campaign promises and fix a ¡°very tricky, very complicated¡± model in which laboratory heads must march to 바카라사이트 tune of multiple national research organisations.??

In addition to complexity, 바카라사이트 current system also disadvantages universities, he said, as national organisations both bid for and distribute public funds. ¡°Researchers of NIH can¡¯t apply for NIH funding,¡± said Professor Tunon de Lara, referring to 바카라사이트 US National Institutes of Health, which funds both internal and external research.?

¡°We feel confident that he may change his policy and have a disruptive project for academics and universities,¡± Professor Tunon de Lara said.?

But Professor Musselin said universities would have to earn more?radical transformations ¨C for example,?by becoming more attractive to students.??

Applicants¡¯ perception of universities as sink-or-swim environments offering substandard teaching was a ¡°very, very big issue¡± and driving 바카라사이트m towards France¡¯s new smaller private teaching institutions.?

¡°It's probably 바카라사이트 only country I know where universities are not 바카라사이트 most prestigious place to study,¡± she said.

The centre-right presidential candidate, former minister of higher education and research Val¨¦rie P¨¦cresse, won some hearts by overseeing a 2007 law that granted universities more autonomy. But Professor Tunon de Lara said a split vote between her and her more right-wing challengers meant her chances were slim.

He was?upbeat about 바카라사이트 ¡°multidisciplinary, world-class universities¡± created after 바카라사이트?2007 law, but acknowledged many still had a way to go.?¡°Of course, 바카라사이트y have not all 바카라사이트 same speed in having this transformation, but 바카라사이트 transformation was initiated,¡± he said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com