Report slams lack of diversity among French students

Government told that more pathways to higher education could tackle wealth gap

Students from all walks of life—especially those from lower-income backgrounds—should be enabled to access and better integrate into all forms of higher education, a report has urged.

The Hirsch report, which was presented to the French government last week, was commissioned by higher education minister Frédérique Vidal and headed-up by Martin Hirsch, director of health body Public Assistance-Paris Hospitals (AP-HP). Compiled by the Strategic Committee on Social and Territorial Diversity in Higher Education, the report makes a number of recommendations to overcome existing “strong inequalities” in the country.