A new higher education law to be introduced in France July 2007 will give the country's universities more autonomy. The law was announced by the new Research and Higher Education Minister Valerie Pécresse on 24 May 2007. Details of the reform are currently being developed in consultation with the higher-education sector.
The law is set to include measures to improve students' living conditions, such as housing and health, university personnel careers, university equipment facilities and the status and career development of young researchers.
Pecresse said that the law represents "the first brick of the new university that we must build together" and added that the higher-education reform would be accompanied by a 50% budget increase over the next five years.
The French Science Trade Union, SNCS, welcomed the announcement but argued that the actual implementation of the planned measures would require three times more funding than currently foreseen for the purpose.
The Commission adopted, in May 2006, a Communication on modernising the European universities, and is urging member states to promote real autonomy and accountability for universities.
