The thirtieth anniversary this month of the May 1968 student uprising on the streets of Paris is a powerful reminder to France's politicians of the sensitivities alive in universities. Claude Allègre, the minister for higher education, research and technology, has ambitious plans for reform. Progress comes with a report on the higher education system, commissioned by Allègre from an expert panel which, inter alia, proposes knocking the élitist and anachronistic grandes écoles off the pedestal where they have been for too long (see page 102). Its proposals for modernizing course structure in universities to reduce the huge student drop-out rate are also welcome.

Regrettably, the slim 46-page report fails to tackle seriously the central issue of how to give the universities greater independence from central government. One major obstacle is France's devotion to the mirage of an egalitarian university system, supposedly (but actually far from) uniform in quality, offering national degrees, and forbidden from selecting students on the grounds of ability.

The report is clearly only one element in the debate. Predictably, the notoriously conservative trade unions complain of a lack of consultation by the report's authors and the ministry. A more open and competitive university system would bring benefits to all, but the strong attachment of many French to a national system cannot be wished away by decree. The unions' ominous warning of “an n th reform imposed from above is doomed to failure” looks all too apt. In his year in office, Allègre has demonstrated an unenviable talent for rallying his opponents, and has often given the impression of abhorring genuine consultation. This may be a tactic intended to gain a strong starting position in negotiations. But if the government is to succeed in its admirable goal of modernizing French universities, it will at some point need to engage in a more subtle and well structured strategy for building a new consensus.