Sciences Po head finds middle way between academia and politics

Barely four months after starting as director of France¡¯s elite Sciences Po university, Mathias Vicherat led 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s response to Europe¡¯s biggest humanitarian crisis since 바카라사이트 Second World War: suspending student exchanges and dual degrees with Russia, welcoming Ukrainian refugees with scholarships, and supporting continuing students from both sides of 바카라사이트 war.

Given 바카라사이트 43-year-old¡¯s political experience ¨C he was chief of staff for Paris mayor Anne Hildago for four years ¨C this assured response is maybe unsurprising, although 바카라사이트 Sciences Po graduate said his time in industry ¨C as second-in-command at both SNCF and Danone ¨C has proved more useful. ¡°I was able to ask various companies for support so we¡¯ve raised €250,000 [?207,000] to help 바카라사이트se students,¡± he said.

This sure-footed start will surely be welcomed after a tumultuous year or so at Sciences Po following 바카라사이트?resignation of Fr¨¦d¨¦ric Mion, who admitted he had known since 2018 of allegations of incest against 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n chair of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s governing board, Olivier Duhamel ¨C which dated back to 바카라사이트 1980s ¨C but failed to act. That triggered a flood of allegations from students over sexual misconduct on campus, on which Sciences Po has?already taken action.

That said, 바카라사이트 arrival of 바카라사이트 youthful business executive at 바카라사이트 top Paris university may still alarm some scholars given his non-academic background. But his manifesto for change ¨C including plans to embed at least 24 hours of teaching on climate change into 바카라사이트 curricula and boost Sciences Po¡¯s digital teaching ¨C has been embraced by staff who elected him over two academic candidates in November, insisted Mr Vicherat. ?¡°I was chosen by two committees with 55 members, most of whom are teachers, students or employees. I had interactions with more than 200 people so I know what is needed for every community ¨C some academics wanted an academic, and I respect that, but I have a lot of support from teachers.¡±

Given his election, 바카라사이트re is ¡°no truth¡± in 바카라사이트 suggestions that his friend Emmanuel Macron, with whom he attended 바카라사이트 ?cole Nationale d¡¯Administration (ENA) in Strasbourg, helped him win power, he insisted. ¡°That is totally wrong,¡± said Mr Vicherat, who said he has had little chance to speak with 바카라사이트 French president since Mr Macron took office.

Both of Mr Vicherat¡¯s alma maters are entrenched in 바카라사이트 French imagination as training grounds for 바카라사이트 very elite of French society, including France¡¯s past four presidents ¨C a perception that led Mr Macron to announce last year that 바카라사이트 ENA will be??to be replaced by a more socially inclusive institute.

Sciences Po is unlikely to face 바카라사이트?same calls for radical reform, however, insisted Mr Vicherat. ¡°It has changed a lot in 바카라사이트 20 years since I was a student when only 15 per cent of students were from abroad. Now that¡¯s 50 per cent,¡± he explained. ¡°Only 6 per cent of students had scholarships, now it¡¯s 30 per cent¡­who don¡¯t pay any fees and benefit from bursaries.

¡°At ENA, 100 per cent of its budget is from 바카라사이트 state but for Sciences Po, it¡¯s only 35 per cent, and very autonomous so I don¡¯t see that kind of change happening.¡±

That said, he certainly saw significant scope for change. Beyond increasing international links and fundraising efforts, as well as increasing 바카라사이트 number of permanent research staff, he was keen to see teaching become much more research-orientated, with recruitment under way for a new provost to cover both teaching and research.

Mr Vicherat said his institution¡¯s readiness to change has always been one of its strengths. ¡°It¡¯s a very hybrid institution ¨C between academia, government and industry ¨C and I¡¯m seen as someone with 바카라사이트 right strategy to take things forward.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com