Reform of French universities
The reform of French universities is a vast overhauling of French public higher education system initiated by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. The reforms were held by Minister of Higher Education and Research Valérie Pécresse, along with Minister of Education Xavier Darcos, for some reforms only.
The reform concern the management of universities, their funding, statute of teachers and researchers, and protection of students. The main aim of the reforms is to render French universities more competitive at the international level, to improve the situation of students and to address the problem of university failure and youth unemployment, thanks to closest links between university and the labour market.
The reforms included the controversial law LRU, which was first voted on July 2007, two months after Nicolas Sarkozy's election. It gave financial autonomy to the 85 French universities and reinforced the power of their presidents inside the structure.