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PART Issues and Perspectives ofHigher Education

Higher education in France has kept a traditional dual system comprising universities on one hand and grandes ecoles on the other hand. Today, one of the two categories of institution is in striking contrast with the other in various aspects. Education in universities is characterized by academically oriented lectures to a large group of students, while gvandes ecoles aim at developing highly qualified professionals in science and technology, business and management by means of offering small-group lessons, inviting lecturers from industrial firms, and by providing students with opportunities for practical work at industrial firms. As will be noted below, universities admit students without a selection process, while grandes ecoles generally admit students through rigorous selection procedures. Regarding employment, university students very often find difficulty in gaining employment, while students in grandes ecoles have a clear advantage. Most major positions at government offices and at business firms are said to be held by graduates of grandes ecoles.

In addition to universities and grandes ecoles there are a number of shorter-term institutions of higher education: two-year technical junior colleges (institutes universities de technologie attached to universities), one- to two-year technician training courses (sections de techniciens superieurs attached to lycees), and one- to two-year preparatory courses for grandes ecoles (attached to lycees). The former two types of institutions aim at training semi-professional workers by means of a practical and vocationally oriented education similar to that provided in grandes ecoles. The rate of employment is higher for students in these institutions than for university students.

Like other advanced countries, France has witnessed a rapid increase in higher education students since the l96O's. The number of higher education students in France, which was 270,000 in 1960, increased to 750,000 by 1970, to one million by 1980, and 1,250,000 by 1987. In 1985 the then Minister of National Education, J. P.Chenement, set forth a plan to increase the proportion of 18-year olds obtaining a baccalaureate from 30% in 1985 to 80% by 2000. In 1987 higher education enrollment was approximately 900,000 in universities, 80,000 in grandes ecoles (schools for technology and commerce only), 70,000 in technical junior colleges, 150,000 in technician training courses, and 50,000 in preparatory courses for grandes ecoles.

The percentage distribution of university students (including graduate students) indicates that the age range of students is very wide. While a majority (58%) of all students are aged 22 or under. in other words. in the normal age group for under-graduate education, 30% are aged 23 to 30. and some 12% are aged 31 or over.

As universities have been more and more popularized in recent years, they have been confronted with urgent problems: how they should maintain and further develop their levels of education and research, while meeting the demands of students with diverse abilities and intentions, and how they should secure adequate teaching and other staff members and provide more and better facilities and equipment.