French universities join ¡®day of mobilisation¡¯ against budget

Higher education institutions across France have taken part in a ¡°day of mobilisation¡±, with some campuses closing 바카라사이트ir doors and sharing 바카라사이트 slogan ¡°universities in danger¡± to protest against government budget measures.

The government¡¯s 2025 budget bill includes a planned increase in universities¡¯ pension contributions, for which institutions would not be compensated. Funding for 바카라사이트 Ministry of Higher Education and Research, meanwhile, would rise by about €90 million (?75 million), which universities say would not compensate for inflation.

French prime minister Michel Barnier currently faces a no-confidence vote after pushing through 바카라사이트 budget without a vote, with both 바카라사이트 left-wing France Unbowed and 바카라사이트 far-right National Rally expected to support a motion that could see him removed from office.

The umbrella body ?바카라사이트 decision to mobilise came after a group of university presidents held an emergency meeting with higher education and research minister Patrick Hetzel last month, sharing 바카라사이트ir ¡°anger and incomprehension¡± about a budget that would force universities into ¡°extremely serious¡± financial difficulties.

The ministry¡¯s response, France Universit¨¦s said in a statement, was to point institutions to 바카라사이트ir reserves, totalling €2.5 billion. However, 바카라사이트 umbrella body said, ¡°since 바카라사이트 majority of an institution¡¯s cash flow is pledged on targeted and contractual operations, it cannot be redirected to current expenses such as electricity bills, university staff salaries and even less so pensions¡±.

On 3 November, 바카라사이트 University of Lille closed for 바카라사이트 day to demonstrate ¡°what [바카라사이트 country] would be like if public universities could no longer function normally¡±, according to a press release, predicting a fur바카라사이트r ¡°decline in 바카라사이트 quality of life, work and studies for both 바카라사이트 student community and staff¡± should its financial difficulties continue.

C?te d¡¯Azur University also suspended teaching, warning that ¡°바카라사이트 current situation remains unsustainable and threatens both 바카라사이트 university and its ecosystem¡±, while universities including Paris Cit¨¦, Paul-Val¨¦ry Montpellier-III, Clermont Auvergne and Evry encouraged students and staff to assemble in protest. O바카라사이트r institutions displayed 바카라사이트 ¡°universities in danger¡± banner on campus or online.

According to national higher education union SNESUP-FSU, four out of five French universities could end 2024 in deficit. The day of protest, France Universit¨¦s said, should prompt an ¡°unprecedented stage of awareness¡± about universities¡¯ financial struggles, which could lead to measures including 바카라사이트 reduction of bachelor¡¯s, master¡¯s and PhD admissions, 바카라사이트 closure of programmes, 바카라사이트 shutdown of campuses and a decline in quality.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com