French universities join ‘day of mobilisation’ against budget

Higher education institutions across France have taken part in a “day of mobilisation”, with some campuses closing their doors and sharing the slogan “universities in danger” to protest against government budget measures.

The government’s 2025 budget bill includes a planned increase in universities’ pension contributions, for which institutions would not be compensated. Funding for the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, meanwhile, would rise by about €90 million (£75 million), which universities say would not compensate for inflation.

French prime minister Michel Barnier currently faces a no-confidence vote after pushing the budget through without a vote, with both the left-wing France Unbowed and the far-right National Rally expected to support a motion that could see him removed from office.

The umbrella body France Universités said the decision to mobilise came after a group of university presidents held an emergency meeting last month with higher education and research minister Patrick Hetzel, sharing their “anger and incomprehension” about a budget that would force universities into “extremely serious” financial difficulties.

The ministry’s response, France Universités said in a statement, was to point institutions to their reserves, totalling €2.5 billion. However, the umbrella body said, “since the majority of an institution’s cash flow is pledged on targeted and contractual operations, it cannot be redirected to current expenses such as electricity bills, university staff salaries and even less so pensions”.

On 3 November, the University of Lille closed for the day in order to demonstrate “what [the country] would be like if public universities could no longer function normally”, according to a press release, further predicting a “decline in the quality of life, work and studies for both the student community and staff” should its financial difficulties continue.

Côte d’Azur University also suspended teaching, warning that “the current situation remains unsustainable and threatens both the university and its ecosystem”, while universities including Paris Cité, Paul-Valéry Montpellier-III, Clermont Auvergne and Evry encouraged students and staff to assemble in protest. Other institutions displayed the “universities in danger” banner on campus or online.

According to the national higher education union SNESUP-FSU, four out of five French universities could end 2024 in a deficit. The day of protest, France Universités said, should prompt an “unprecedented stage of awareness” about universities’ financial struggles, which could lead to measures including the reduction of bachelor’s, master’s and PhD admissions, the closure of programmes, the shutdown of campuses and a decline in quality.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com