‘French research not in decline,’ minister insists

Frédérique Vidal defends government funding and promises post-Covid normality

France’s research minister Frédérique Vidal has responded to criticisms of her government’s record on higher education, saying that objectives to recover from the coronavirus pandemic have been met.

During the research ministry’s annual launch event for the academic year on 30 September, Vidal said a promise she had made in June that all students would attend campus by the start of the semester had been fulfilled. Defending the government’s record, the minister said it had invested more in higher education, research and innovation than any previous administration, and that it had worked to stop an ongoing reduction in funding.