Student unions identify 2023 challenges for universities

Many projects await universities in 2023 Scholarships based on social criteria awarded by Crous. This long-announced reform is under arbitration. It should see the light of day in two phases: the first measure from September 2023, followed by a full reform in 2025.

Changing the conditions for admission to Crous scholarships

Fage, the federation of student associations, asks first of all demilitarization of aid. The allocation of the Crous scholarship is really based on the family ratio, and some students do not receive help from their parents.

La Fage also calls for territorialization of aid according to residential area. “Studying at IFSI in Meaux will not cost the same as doing a law degree at Assas,” says student federation president Etienne Matignon. He hopes too creating a window for access to other assistancesuch as APL.

Confront the marginal effects of pensions on social standards

Unef, for its part, will take the opportunity to propose againestablishment of autonomy allowance for students. “This worries us because there is no big increase in the budget intended for this reform”, emphasizes its president Imane Ouelhadj.

He is also a supporter of a linearization of stock markets in order to combat marginal effects. A scholarship based on social criteria can really change a lot when the student’s level changes.

A unique master’s program platform

Another big change for 2023 is worrying prospective graduate students. Applications for these courses will be made on a single platform that will be opened in February. Previously, you had to apply to each university.

“On paper, it simplifies administrative procedures and consolidates the calendar. But there is no transparency in the platform, we have very little information about how it works,” says Imane Ouelhadj. implementation of an algorithm to classify filesThis is denied by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Fifteen non-hierarchical requests for applying to graduate school

The platform will not offer to prioritize requests – 15 in initial training and 15 in work-study training -, positive score according to Fage. However, the federation is concerned that the additional phase will not be implemented this year, but at the beginning of the next academic year. “If some features are not ready, has time been taken to make them work properly and avoid bugs like at the start of Parcoursup?” Etienne Matignon asks.

The latter also means that this new application platform is a. requires to be accompanied by plans to create master’s places. According to the Ministry, this should allow for accurate recording of needs according to the training.

Teach all students in the ecological transition

Finally, the Minister of Higher Education, Sylvie Retalleau, announced it all students will be trained in the ecological transition until 2025. A skills base will be created from 2023 so that businesses can benefit from it. Good news for the student unions making this claim.

Etienne Matignon emphasizes: “We will have to create training and add modules to the existing training”. According to him, the right answer is to create special module to educate all students on environmental transition issues, but also spread these issues in lessons. “For example, it would be relevant for a chemistry student to know the carbon footprint of their practice,” describes the Fage president.

Imane Ouelhadj remains vigilant the form these modules will take. “There should be a real course delivered by the universities and related to the training, not a distance MOOC”. It also emphasizes the importance of dedication special budget for the creation of these modules.