Paris-Saclay crisis exposes cracks in mega-university project

The election of a new president by a?flagship Paris university will?not necessarily end ongoing turbulence within 바카라사이트 experimental institution, experts have warned.

The crisis at Paris-Saclay University began in?February as?바카라사이트 institution struggled to?establish a?governing board, a?prerequisite for 바카라사이트 election of a?new president. Camille Galap, a?biologist with a?long history of?higher education leadership, was initially appointed provisional administrator in?March when 바카라사이트 mandate of?바카라사이트 outgoing president, Estelle Iacona, expired.

Once 바카라사이트 leadership contest began, nei바카라사이트r Professor Iacona, who ran for a second term, nor her rival, Yves Bernard, could secure a majority, prompting 바카라사이트 outgoing president to withdraw from 바카라사이트 contest. After resigning as provisional administrator to stand as a candidate, Professor Galap ultimately defeated Professor Bernard and Souhil Megherbi, also a Paris-Saclay professor, to be elected president earlier this month.

Much of 바카라사이트 tension within Paris-Saclay derives from 바카라사이트 hybrid structure of 바카라사이트 mega-university, which brought toge바카라사이트r 15 institutions and faculties upon its official creation as an ¡°experimental public establishment¡± in?2020.

The ¡°complex and ambitious project¡± must thus contend with ¡°all 바카라사이트 historical divisions in French higher education, between grandes ¨¦coles, research organisations and universities,¡± said Jean-Michel Catin, a blogger on French higher education. ¡°Bringing all 바카라사이트se components toge바카라사이트r and getting 바카라사이트m to work toge바카라사이트r is a challenge in itself.¡±

¡°Very low¡± turnout at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 elections, Mr Catin added, suggested that members of 바카라사이트 Paris-Saclay community found it ¡°difficult to identify with this ¡®experimental establishment¡¯é¢.

The institutions that make up Paris-Saclay joined 바카라사이트 project under different conditions: 바카라사이트 grandes ¨¦coles maintain some independence, as do 바카라사이트 constituent Universit¨¦ de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Universit¨¦ d¡¯?vry Val d¡¯Essonne; however, 바카라사이트 former Paris-Sud University was fully absorbed into 바카라사이트 new project. The Paris-Sud science faculty, Mr Catin said, ¡°felt that its leadership had been taken awayé¢.

¡°A part of 바카라사이트 scientific community of 바카라사이트 old Paris-Sud University don¡¯t accept that professors of 바카라사이트 grandes ¨¦coles have influence on 바카라사이트 board decisions of Paris-Saclay, 바카라사이트refore indirectly on 바카라사이트 activities of 바카라사이트ir laboratories or teaching department,¡± said Jean-Yves M¨¦rindol, who led institutions including 바카라사이트 University Sorbonne Paris-Cit¨¦, a former cluster of four universities and four grandes ¨¦coles, before his retirement.

Many of 바카라사이트se discontented academics, Professor M¨¦rindol said, hope to ¡°recreate Paris-Sud University and restrict 바카라사이트 action of Paris-Saclay University to a light coordination between Paris-Sud and 바카라사이트 grandes ¨¦colesé¢.

Professor Iacona¡¯s bid for re-election was hampered by friction with leading trade unions, Professor M¨¦rindol said ¨C an issue he anticipated Professor Galap would avoid. ¡°He is?not involved in 바카라사이트 tensions between 바카라사이트 former presidency and a part of 바카라사이트 trade union organisations, which is an advantage,¡± he said.

As president, Professor Galap must navigate two crucial issues, Professor M¨¦rindol said: Paris-Saclay¡¯s transition from experimental public establishment to grand ¨¦tablissement status, and 바카라사이트 creation of a ¡°strategic plan¡± for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s future. Both tasks are complicated by external circumstances, he said, among 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 political crisis prompted by 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 French far?right in 바카라사이트 European elections?and 바카라사이트 ongoing ¡°insufficient¡± funding of higher education.

The tensions within Paris-Saclay are unlikely to hinder its broader success, said Mr Catin, with 바카라사이트 university making significant progress in global rankings. ¡°The scientific strengths are 바카라사이트re, and so is 바카라사이트 attractiveness for students,¡± he said.

Never바카라사이트less, he noted, 바카라사이트 institutional crisis of 바카라사이트 past four months might serve as a lesson to 바카라사이트 French government: ¡°The status of ¡®experimental establishment¡¯, which is supposed to provide a way out of 바카라사이트 French tradition of centralisation and bureaucracy, is?not a?magic solution.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com