French bill opens universities to business funding

The European University Association (EAU) said it welcomed the move to give French universities more autonomy as "a critical aspect of higher education reform." "If we don't decide who to employ, and what to spend our money on, universities are never going to be able to change," said EUA secretary general Lesley Wilson.

The French Academy of Sciences fully supports the reform, as it believes that it will help universities deliver more highly qualified people.

The association of presidents of universities, the 'Conférence des Présidents d'Université' (CPU), welcomes the text adopted by the French Parliament but urges the adoption of a financial framework in order to formalise the government's commitments and implement the different frameworks proposed.

However, according to a group of 25 trade unions and associations, including the French association of researchers "Sauvons la Recherche", teachers' and students' unions, the reform would "lead to the unequal development of universities due to the race for funding and the disengagement of the State". In the end of July, the group asked the government to drop its plans on university reform.

According to the French Science Trade Union (SNCS), the text does not consider the needs of universities in the research area. In particular, the possibility of proposing short-term contracts to researchers contradicts the nature of research activity, it argues.

Valérie Pecresse, the Higher Education Minister said that she is fully satisfied with the adopted text and welcomes the French Prime Minister François Fillon's announcement of a 5% increase in the budget for higher education and research.