Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTS AND CULTURE 1995 > University Reform in Other Countries 3

France has a wide variety of institutions of higher education. In addition to universities, there are the grandes ecoles, which train executives for the bureaucracy and industry, and technical junior colleges and technician training courses attached to lycees (high schools), both short-term educational institutions.

In 1985 the government adopted a policy designed to enhance France's economic competitiveness by raising the percentage of students reaching the final year of upper secondary education to 80% in order to increase the number of students advancing to higher education. Under this policy the number of students enrolled in institutions of higher education increased by over 40% between 1985 and 1992. That growth was paralleled by diversification of students' scholastic abilities and reasons for undertaking higher education.

This trend has been especially marked in universities, which account for about 60% of the total higher-education student population, and which, unlike other institutions of higher education, in principle accept all graduates of secondary education. Problems include the large number of students who drop out or repeat years during the first cycle of undergraduate studies because of poor academic performance. Steps have been taken to facilitate study. Another priority is the alleviation of shortages of teachers and facilities resulting from the rapid growth of the student population.