Minister hails French university admissions success

Controversial changes in French university admissions that triggered violent protests and shut down campuses this year have proven a success, the country’s higher education and research minister has said.

Frédérique Vidal said the changes appear to have “worked fully”, in a speech on 6 September at the first follow-up meeting to mark their introduction. Vidal admitted that her analysis was provisional, and that it would take time to see how the changes will really play out.

More than 600,000 students had been enrolled in higher education by the end of July, Vidal said. Just over 3,000 applicants had not been able to find a place, but the government is helping them to do so, she said.