French Universities Shut Down to Protest Funding Cuts
Amidst growing tension over funding cuts, many French public universities, including the prestigious University of Lille, launched a symbolic closure on Tuesday. This protest, spearheaded by France Universities, aims to raise awareness about two specific measures proposed by the government as part of the 2025 budget vote.
Régis Bordet, President of the University of Lille, sheds light on the gravity of the situation. “These are national measures imposed by the State,” he says. “The first involves raising the index point that determines public sector employee salaries. Essentially, this means public sector workers will see an increase in their paychecks.” He adds, “The second measure requires universities to contribute more to the special allocation account that funds civil servant pensions, which we call the ‘CAS Pension’.”
What makes the situation particularly concerning is that these measures are not accompanied by any increase in subsidies allocated to universities. “For the University of Lille, this will cost us an additional 16 million euros per year,” Bordet explains, “while we’re already missing 48 million euros in subsidies to be on par with the average funding for French universities.”
A Dire Financial Situation
The University of Lille is already grappling with a structural deficit that it has been tirelessly trying to address since 2022. This plan to achieve financial stability now faces a significant setback. “These additional charges would set us back two years,” Bordet warns. This could lead to difficult choices. “We might have to reconsider investments in building renovations, sports programs, or cultural activities,” he says, “if we want to avoid compromising on our core mission – education.”
While the situation is dire for Lille, the president fears wider repercussions. “For some universities, it might become impossible to pay salaries,” he cautions. Drawing on reserves might provide temporary relief, but even that is not a sustainable solution. “As things stand, the university could well be closed on September 22, just as it was today. This situation is deeply unsettling for both students and staff.”
He continues, “We are already doing everything we can to generate additional resources. We are the leading university in France in terms of professional training and are actively seeking funding through research partnerships. We are exploring every avenue, but we cannot indefinitely stretch our resources.”
Tuition Fees: A Risky Solution?
“Tuition fees are another topic that needs to be addressed,” Bordet acknowledges. At the University of Lille, student fees amount to around 200 to 250 euros per student. This falls significantly short of the estimated 600 euros per student required for adequate funding.
“We have no intention of raising tuition fees on our own,” Bordet emphasizes. “If the government is considering increasing tuition fees, they should be transparent about their intentions and take full responsibility for the consequences.”
The situation facing French universities underscores the need for a sustainable and reliable funding model. Without adequate financial support, these institutions risk compromising the quality of education and jeopardizing the future of countless students.
How will these budget proposals impact research and innovation in France, according to Régis Bordet?
## Struggling to Stay Afloat: An Interview with Régis Bordet on University Funding Cuts
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing the ongoing protests erupting across French universities, sparked by the 2025 budget proposal. With us today is Régis Bordet, President of the University of Lille, one of the institutions at the forefront of this movement. Monsieur Bordet, thanks for joining us.
**Régis Bordet:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** So, tell us, what exactly are the proposed budget measures causing such uproar?
**Régis Bordet:** The situation is indeed quite serious. The government is proposing two key changes. Firstly, they’re raising the index point used to calculate salaries for public sector workers. While this sounds positive on the surface, it means universities will have to pay their staff more without any corresponding increase in funding.
Adding to this, they want universities to contribute more to the civil servant pension fund, something we call the “CAS Pension.” Again, this adds a significant financial burden without any additional support.
**Host:** So you’re essentially being asked to pay more without receiving more money?
**Régis Bordet:** Precisely. At the University of Lille, this translates to an additional 16 million euros annually. This is on top of the fact that we’re already facing a 48 million euro deficit [[1](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/french-universities-and-research-endangered-eu900-million-cut)]. We’ve been working hard since 2022 to address this issue, but these new proposals threaten to derail our efforts completely.
**Host:** You mentioned a symbolic closure of the university. What message are you hoping to send with this action?
**Régis Bordet:** We want the government to understand the dire situation facing French universities. These cuts will have a ripple effect, impacting not just students but also research and innovation in France. It’s a slippery slope that could ultimately jeopardize the future of our nation’s education system.
**Host:** Monsieur Bordet, thank you for shedding light on this critical issue. We’ll continue to follow the situation closely.
**Régis Bordet:** Thank you for having me.