Universities: Danger!

Committed to the defence of a public university serving its young people and its region, the President of Avignon Université fully supports the unprecedented action initiated by France Universités, which brings together the heads of universities and higher education and research establishments, with the Minister for Higher Education and Research.

On Thursday 21 November 2024, the Presidents alerted the Minister to the untenable financial situation of the universities as a result of national salary measures taken by the State without compensation. They expressed both their fear and their anger.

For Avignon Université, these salary measures represented an additional cost of more than €1 million in 2024. The Minister made a commitment to the Presidents that he would not deduct an additional 1 % from the 2025 budgets of the institutions in order to create a solidarity fund. However, if the government confirms its intention to increase, without compensation, the Compte d'Affectation Spéciale (CAS) pension fund - set up to recover and manage the State pension scheme - it will be deducting an estimated €820,000 from our institution's 2025 budget.

Avignon University plays a major role in promoting young people and the economic dynamism of its region. Over the last few years, it has developed a range of courses that lead its students to success and professional integration, with integration rates of over 92% after a professional bachelor's or master's degree. It has supported research that is strongly connected to its socio-economic environment, with research partnerships whose turnover has tripled in just a few years. It has supported projects that have a structuring effect on ecosystems and makes a decisive contribution to the economic and cultural vitality of its region.

This momentum has developed despite the drastic savings it has had to make in order to finance uncompensated government measures. Today, Avignon Université is no longer in a position to support the additional savings likely to cover the new drop in public funding. If this drop were to be confirmed, it would be impossible to maintain the momentum, and the institution would be forced to close courses and abandon projects that are crucial to the future of its students and its region.

Closing the doors of higher education to some of our young people and reducing our capacity for innovation is not an economy. It is an economic and social debt that we will have to pay off in the years to come.

The Chairmen and Chairwomen have warned the Minister that the Government must now take responsibility for the decisions it makes.