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Universities and the Production of Elites pp 103–125Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

How Effective Have Reform Policies Been in Redesigning the French Higher Education and Research System?

Part of the Palgrave Studies in Global Higher Education book series (PSGHE)

Abstract

Focusing on the French higher education and research (HER) system, this chapter explores the aims of the reforms introduced over the last 35 years and how much they have contributed to the forming of national elites. It accounts for the new organizational and governance tools introduced during the two reform phases (incremental phase and radical phase). These reforms attempt to overcome two divides: between the prestigious grandes écoles (elite colleges) and more accessible universities, and between teaching and research. This chapter explores the extent to which the aims of simplification, diversification, concentration, stratification, and territorialization of the HER system have been achieved through formal rule changes and incentives for ‘excellence’ with a view to aligning French HER with international norms.

Keywords

  • French higher education and research system
  • Incremental and radical reforms
  • Implementation
  • Stratification
  • Behavior of stakeholders

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Two other bodies were abandoned soon after their creation and were merged with other institutions: the Haut Conseil de la Science et de la Technologie (High Council for Science and Technology) and the Agence d’Innovation industrielle (Industrial Innovation Council).

  2. 2.

    http://www.media-paris-saclay.fr/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Brochure-Paris-Saclay.pdf

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Paris-Est, Champs-sur-Marne, France

    Catherine Paradeise

Authors
  1. Catherine Paradeise
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Correspondence to Catherine Paradeise .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

    Dr. Roland Bloch

  2. Institute of Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

    Alexander Mitterle

  3. Institute for Research and Innovation in Society, University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, Champs-sur-Marne, France

    Catherine Paradeise

  4. Institute of Sociology, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Tobias Peter

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Paradeise, C. (2018). How Effective Have Reform Policies Been in Redesigning the French Higher Education and Research System?. In: Bloch, R., Mitterle, A., Paradeise, C., Peter, T. (eds) Universities and the Production of Elites. Palgrave Studies in Global Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53970-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53970-6_5

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