Reforming university in France

French scientists revolt against government reforms

University lecturers and researchers in France has been in a national strike since Feb 2 over a draft decree that would change their job descriptions and procedures for promotion to reform research and higher education.

According to above Nature news article, the new policy transfers responsibility to assess researchers to the university president and board. Scientists fear that cash-strapped universities might cut research time and force them to do more teaching, at a time when posts are being cut.

It says that the government's overall goal is giving universities greater autonomy. In Japan, national universities were converted into independent corporate entities in 2004. But Japan's universities are far from full autonomy in managing human resources and researches.