The French government has changed the rules for the Plan Campus programme so that universities no longer have to find a private sector partner to renovate their facilities.
The aim of the decision is to speed up the progress of Plan Campus, which is intended to allow universities to carry out major refurbishments. Although the programme was launched in 2007, few institutions have made much progress on their projects and have complained about the complicated process of undertaking the work in partnership with private sector partners—one of the original conditions for funding.
After the change of government this year, Socialist research minister Geneviève Fioraso vowed to look into the problem. It has now been decided that universities can proceed with refurbishments without handing control to private sector companies.
According to a government statement, one such project is already underway in Bordeaux.