Sciences Po head finds middle way between academia and politics

Barely four months after starting as director of France’s elite Sciences Po university, Mathias Vicherat led the institution’s response to Europe’s biggest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War: suspending student exchanges and dual degrees with Russia, welcoming Ukrainian refugees with scholarships, and supporting continuing students from both sides of the war.

Given the 43-year-old’s political experience – he was chief of staff for Paris mayor Anne Hildago for four years – this assured response is maybe unsurprising, although the Sciences Po graduate said his time in industry – as second-in-command at both SNCF and Danone – has proved more useful. “I was able to ask various companies for support so we’ve raised €250,000 [£207,000] to help these students,” he said.

This sure-footed start will surely be welcomed after a tumultuous year or so at Sciences Po following the resignation of Frédéric Mion, who admitted he had known since 2018 of allegations of incest against the then chair of the institution’s governing board, Olivier Duhamel – which dated back to the 1980s – but failed to act. That triggered a flood of allegations from students over sexual misconduct on campus, on which Sciences Po has already taken action.

That said, the arrival of the youthful business executive at the top Paris university may still alarm some scholars given his non-academic background. But his manifesto for change – including plans to embed at least 24 hours of teaching on climate change into the curricula and boost Sciences Po’s digital teaching – has been embraced by staff who elected him over two academic candidates in November, insisted Mr Vicherat.  “I was chosen by two committees with 55 members, most of whom are teachers, students or employees. I had interactions with more than 200 people so I know what is needed for every community – some academics wanted an academic, and I respect that, but I have a lot of support from teachers.”

Given his election, there is “no truth” in the suggestions that his friend Emmanuel Macron, with whom he attended the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Strasbourg, helped him win power, he insisted. “That is totally wrong,” said Mr Vicherat, who said he has had little chance to speak with the French president since Mr Macron took office.

Both of Mr Vicherat’s alma maters are entrenched in the French imagination as training grounds for the very elite of French society, including France’s past four presidents – a perception that led Mr Macron to announce last year that the ENA will be abolished to be replaced by a more socially inclusive institute.

Sciences Po is unlikely to face the same calls for radical reform, however, insisted Mr Vicherat. “It has changed a lot in the 20 years since I was a student when only 15 per cent of students were from abroad. Now that’s 50 per cent,” he explained. “Only 6 per cent of students had scholarships, now it’s 30 per cent…who don’t pay any fees and benefit from bursaries.

“At ENA, 100 per cent of its budget is from the state but for Sciences Po, it’s only 35 per cent, and very autonomous so I don’t see that kind of change happening.”

That said, he certainly saw significant scope for change. Beyond increasing international links and fundraising efforts, as well as increasing the number of permanent research staff, he was keen to see teaching become much more research-orientated, with recruitment under way for a new provost to cover both teaching and research.

Mr Vicherat said his institution’s readiness to change has always been one of its strengths. “It’s a very hybrid institution – between academia, government and industry – and I’m seen as someone with the right strategy to take things forward.”

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com