Rankings success shows reform programme works, says Vidal

Triumph for PSL University in international rankings lauded by research minister

Research minister Frédérique Vidal has said that recently merged French universities’ strong performance in a set of international university rankings is a vindication of the government’s policy to encourage mergers between institutions, a key plank of its reform programme.

The government’s eagerness to see institutions merge and climb international rankings has been criticised and opposed by many, particularly French higher education unions. But in a statement published on 15 February, Vidal said the newly merged institutions’ performance showed that the government should continue “to implement a policy of excellence that allows French universities to position themselves in prime position on the chessboard of world universities”.