Monday, they had to "United" in the Gallery of the UMP parliamentary day. But neither Dominique de Villepin nor Nicolas Sarkozy seems have waived engage competition and to preempt the big campaign issues. The Prime Minister should devote a large part of its environment and research issues monthly press conference this morning. It may even unveil a first list very expected of "thematic research networks" (Group of institutions of excellence will receive shortly the additional funds).
Means may occupy the front of the stage and taking speed Nicolas Sarkozy, who will close this afternoon the convention of the UMP on higher education, research and new technologies. The party, which wants to make these themes one of the priorities of the election campaign, will focus on "academic reform which is an emergency and a taboo": direction, governance the operation of the boards of Directors , assessment of sectors... He said he wanted to be bold also on the school, when it was last winter proposed to delete the ZEP.

"University common basement."
In September, Nicolas Sarkozy has already given the tone in the UMP Summer University, by proposing to "put an end to the requirement for university students which are not sufficiently prepared to graduate studies" and "that the University receives more money but be more autonomous, more close to the business world, more involved in the research".
Other ideas are on the table. Valérie Pécresse, the UMP convention Organizer, argues for a "University common basement" (languages, new technologies, French...), modelled on that of the school, each student should master at the end of the first years. François Goulard, Minister delegate to education superior, which was not invited this morning due to ongoing dispute with the President of the UMP, advocates, he, to offer to researchers-teachers contract individual modulation of schedules and salaries...
Additional ways
The UMP is obviously not the only one interested in the subject: anxious to reconnect the wire with young people here in the presidential, parties, urged to audacity by the Presidents of University, want to show that they fired the lesson of the crisis of the CPE. No coincidence, therefore, if the substance of the proposals so far revolve around the orientation-means-governance triptych. Thus, François Bayrou (UDF) proposes to transform the Terminal in a year of "preparatory", preparatory to higher education.
In PS, Laurent Fabius has claimed this weekend before save research "a law of programming" with additional means, pleaded for a "progressive increase of autonomy" and a "right" for the professional Bachelor to a short chain BTS, IUT. It is also different from the Socialist project proposing the integration of scientific prépas at the universities, which does not have consensus. "Our University is in crisis," expressed alarm at his side Dominique Strauss-Kahn on his blog last week. Former economy Minister proposes that universities and laboratories "weave more links with the private sector" and that the regions are involved in the financing of universities, in exchange for a financial transfer equivalent to 1-2 of VAT revenues. Subjects, again largely taboo.