Confusion over uni reform future

PLANS to reform the working practices of university lecturer-researchers are still on the agenda, Higher Education Minister Valérie Pécresse has insisted.

The assertion came despite reports over the weekend that President Sarkozy wished it to be withdrawn.

Sarkozy said he wanted “new avenues be rapidly explored for the evaluation of lecturer-researchers and the organisation of their services” - a statement interpreted by some commentators as “time to go back to the drawing board”.

However yesterday Pécresse said on the radio there would be no “fundamental” changes to her plans and her aim was to keep pushing ahead with the reform.

“The decree has not been withdrawn,” she said.

University staff, up to 80,000 of whom took to the streets in protest recently, are concerned that the measure will give too much power to university presidents to dictate to them and that they will be forced to spend too much time teaching to the detriment of research. More action is planned on Thursday.

Pécresse on Friday met with university leaders with her newly-appointed “mediator” Claire Bazy-Malaurie.

The plans are in the wider context of giving autonomy to universities in budgeting and human resources. Some university presidents are concerned that controversy over the decree could lead to the whole idea of autonomy, which many support, being questioned. One president, Axel Kahn of Université Paris V Descartes, said he would resign if autonomy plans were withdrawn.

Photo:Jastrow