France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research Geneviève Fioraso reinstated the country’s Operation Campus program in October. The program was first announced in 2007 to increase the competitiveness of French universities (see IBO 7/15/08). Under the plan, pôles de recherche et enseignement supérieur (centers for research and higher education), clusters of universities, grandes écoles (“higher schools”) and research groups had vied for more than €5 billion ($6.5 billion) in funding. Less than 4% of the money had been spent when Ms. Fioraso took office in June and launched an investigation. The resulting report revealed that the main challenges had been complicated public-private partnerships (PPPs) and the minimal involvement of regional authorities, which were investing more than €1 billion. Going forward, PPPs will not be part of the program unless a project had already begun. The report recommended the government support university construction using public service contracts. The largest Operation Campus cluster, the 23-member Campus Paris-Saclay, is now part of the Grand Paris urban development plan. It will receive €850 million as part of Operation Campus, as well as €1 billion each from the government and the Investments of the Future Initiatives of Excellence.

Source: University World News