Long Road to Reform in France

摘要

Over the past 2 years, several changes have occurred in the french system of scientific research and higher education, and more are on the way. As the country struggles to find ways of modernizing a structure that has been forged over two centuries, the intention to improve things is a good sign. Change is needed because the French system is mired in numerous idiosyncrasies, including a dichotomy between public universities and specialized public institutions of higher education-the grandes ecoles. The latter are selective but mainly emphasize undergraduate education. The other major problem is a research workforce fragmented between universities and government agencies such as the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) for basic sciences and the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM). This structure inhibits the flow of professional talent between these institutions.