Assurance Quality in the University of Grenoble II Outlines : -The general French framework -Assurance quality of the programmes -Assurance quality of the research -Assurance quality of the teachers-researchers -Some particular aspects -What is yet missing

1. The General French framework There is only one private university in France, which is not very known…All universities are public institutions. The diplomas are delivered by each university but they are all guaranteed by the State : they are “national” diplomas”. Students and family attach a very great value to what is considered as the best guarantee of quality. The Ministry of Higher Education is the first responsible for the quality of universities. It is obvious that this centralised system destroys the sense of individual (local) responsibility for quality assurance

The “contractualisation” Each four years, the universities have to present a contract to the Ministry, which defines the site strategy for the 4 next years, gives the list of all the programmes of studies (old and news), the main orientations of research, the priorities in International relations, the external stakeholders (industries, banks…), the funds and human resources needed, etc…Normally it is a bottom-up approach, but not always. The contract is evaluated by the National autonomous Agency (AERES), and during one year the project is under discussion between the Ministry and the University, to modify and improve the contract, in respect also to the results of the previous contract. At the end, after a long fighting and a lot of patience…, the two parties arrive to a consensus and sign the contract. The university may work for 4 years on the base of this contract.

2. The assurance quality of the programmes of studies All the curricula are assessed by a special Department of the AERES. The standards are those of the Bologna Process : -Correct use of the ECTS, Diploma supplement -Course units defined in terms of learning outcomes -Sufficient resources (human and material) -Coherence with the level (Dublin indicators) -Coherence with the European and National Framework of qualification -Coherence with the local and regional situation -Transparency and comparability

Other measures -For each diploma, the University must indicate on the web site, the rate of success and employability. -All the syllabus must be available on the website in English. -The rules of all assessments and examinations are voted each year by a special council of the University and published -By law, in case of failure, the students are allowed to repass the exam during the same session.

3. Assurance Quality for research All the laboratories, or research teams, are assessed by a special Department of the AERES. It is a double evaluation : - checking if the objectives of the previous contract have been achieved. -Evaluation of the new programmes. The main criteria are : -quantity and quality of publications -international network and influence -innovation -number of doctorates -number of patents -activities of valorisation and popularization A ranking may be made.

4. Assurance Quality of the Teachers-Researchers It is one of the weak aspects… Teachers-researchers are evaluated only when they are recruited. Two steps: -The national level : assessment by a national commission of peers of the discipline (CNU) which gives the “qualification”. PhD is compulsory. -The local one : a special commission (local and external peers) auditions the “qualified” candidates and makes a proposal to the Rector who can refuse. One recruited, the teacher-researcher is evaluated (by the CNU) only if he wants to have a promotion, special primes, or a training leave.

5. Some particular aspects All the universities must propose a student chart which defines the rights and duties of students and institution, and also a specific chart for the doctoral students (which are now considered no more as student but as professionals) Some offices may observe European quality standards like ISO Before each new contract, the UPMF asks for an external an private audit (very expensive…) so as to measure both the achieved and missed progress.

6. What is yet missing in Grenoble and in France… A culture of self evaluation including assessment by students and presence of stakeholders The setting of good indicators, well adapted to the different disciplines and institutions If the term of competitiveness may be accepted, the term of “competition” is rejected by academics There are strong differences according to the institutions and the disciplines : professional institutions are more concerned with assurance quality. Small universities in general are more advanced than the big ones. A last observation : higher the fees are, and more students are selected, more developed assurance quality is…Be careful to the social aspect of Bologna process…

Thank you for your attention and remember… Grenoble II is nor better nor worse than any other French university !