View source for Law on Higher Education and Research (France)

{{Expand French|Loi relative à l'enseignement supérieur et à la recherche|date=July 2015|topic=gov}}
The '''Law on Higher Education and Research''' of July 22, 2013 replaced laws promulgated by the previous French government in 2006 and 2007 (for example the law on [[Liberties and Responsibilities of Universities]]) regarding the organization and autonomy of universities and other research and higher education institutions in France.
During the 2012 French presidential election, [[François Hollande]] promised to review and improve conditions for undergraduate and graduate education and research in French universities. Shortly after the election, [[Geneviève Fioraso]], minister for higher education and research, launched an assessment process led by an independent committee in dialogue with the university community. The committee presented a report on December 17, 2012 containing 135 recommendations. Some of the proposals received criticism, but these formed the basis for the new law presented to the [[National Assembly (France)]] in March 2013, and adopted into law July 22, 2013. Other than a dispute over the introduction of English into university courses there was little public debate.
== Contents of the Law ==
The first title of the new law concerned general principles such as teaching in the French language,<ref group="law">Articles L121-3 of the code de l’Éducation, modified by article 2 of the law on higher education and research</ref> or the use of [[Free software]]. Ministers in charge of Higher Education and Research would be responsible for 5-year strategic national plans.
The law describes national limits on general professional degrees and minimal percentages on professional graduates and technological graduates. Students have a right to access more selective university programs if they have sufficiently high grades on their [[baccalauréat]] (high school graduation exam).
=== Geographic coordination ===
The law provides that "coordination is organized by only one establishment of higher education for a given territory [academic or interacademic]".
Every institution of higher education needed to plan for the following to establish this coordination:
* merging with one or more other institutions
* participating in an [[association of universities and higher education institutions]],
* associating in another form of [[Établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel|public scientific, cultural or professional establishment (EPSCP)]].<ref group="law">Articles L718-2 and L718-3 of the code de l’Éducation, created by article 62 of the law on higher education and research</ref>
The Association of universities and higher education institutions (communauté d’universités et établissements) is a new type of EPSCP created by this law; at the same time, the  [[Pôle de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur|pôles de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur]] (PRES), the [[Réseau thématique de recherche avancée|réseaux thématiques de recherche avancée]] (RTRA) and the [[Établissement public de coopération scientifique|établissements publics de coopération scientifique]] (EPCS), created by the 2006 law on research coordination are discontinued.<ref group="law">Article 66 of the law on higher education and research</ref>
Now there are [[Groups of universities and institutions|Communities of universities and institutions]] (COMUE).
==See also==
* {{lang|fr|[[Pôle de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur]]|italic=no}}, PRES (2007−2013)
* [[Groups of universities and institutions|Communities of universities and institutions]], ''Communautés d’Universités et Établissements'' (COMUE) (est. 2013)
==References ==
{{reflist|group="law"}}
;Text of the law
* {{cite web|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichLoiPreparation.do?idDocument=JORFDOLE000027197524&type=general|title=Dossier législatif - Projet de loi relatif à l'enseignement supérieur et à la recherche (ESRJ1304228L)}}
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{{Public universities and higher education institutes in France}}
{{Scientific research in France}}
[[Category:Education law in France]]
[[Category:University reform|France]]
[[Category:2013 in France]]
[[Category:2013 in education]]
[[Category:2013 in law|Higher Education and Research]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in France]]
[[Category:Higher education law]]
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