Bruno Bouchard, president of the University Paris Dauphine-PSL, issued a stark warning about the state of French higher education and research funding, calling on presidential candidates to present a comprehensive ten-year investment plan for the sector.
A University Blockaded for the First Time in a Decade
Speaking on franceinfo, Bouchard addressed the ongoing student and high school mobilizations that have swept across France, noting that his own institution has been blockaded for the first time in ten years. Rather than dismissing the protesters’ concerns, he expressed solidarity with several of their demands, particularly regarding the chronic underfunding of education.
“What needs to be done is massive,” Bouchard stated, emphasizing that presidential candidates must commit to “a genuine ten-year plan” for education and research financing.
Research Funding at a Breaking Point
The university president raised particular alarm about the deteriorating financial situation in French research institutions. According to Bouchard, between 2021 and 2024, two-thirds of universities’ working capital reserves have been depleted.
“We have reached the end of the road,” he warned, stressing that high-level research is essential for France’s economic competitiveness and its ability to finance social programs and pensions.
- Two-thirds of university working capital lost between 2021 and 2024
- Research funding described as critically insufficient
- Universities struggling to maintain competitive research output
Parcoursup Not the Problem, Capacity Is
While acknowledging that the Parcoursup university admissions platform “can still be improved,” Bouchard defended the system as already “hyper-efficient.” The real challenge, he argued, lies in the limited capacity of French universities to accommodate students.
“We are not at the required level at all,” he said, calling for a comprehensive mapping of regions where university places are lacking in order to implement targeted solutions.
Calls for Increased Secondary Education Funding
Bouchard also advocated for greater resources in high schools and the creation of additional university positions. His remarks come amid widespread disruptions across French faculties, with the president of France Universités warning of a potential “massive dropout” of students if the crisis continues unresolved.
The university president’s intervention adds significant weight to the growing chorus of voices demanding that education and research become central issues in the upcoming presidential campaign.
