French HEIs ask national government to guarantee continuity of national funding for alliances

The presidents of 56 French higher education institutions that are members of an alliance of European universities have called on Philippe Baptiste, the French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, to guarantee the continuity of national funding for alliances on 20/05/2026.

While national support of around €100 million will continue until 2028, the universities said that this support was no longer guaranteed for future calls under the next Erasmus+ programme for 2028-2034.

They said that this lack of visibility on whether national funding would be maintained or increased undermined the ability of French universities to pursue their European commitments and sustain the transformations they have begun.

They added that without sustainable support, certain key investments could be slowed down, postponed or abandoned, and warned of risks such as:

• The disappearance of the expertise and new professions developed within the alliances;
• a delay in adapting to the new European frameworks;
• a lasting weakening of the ability of French institutions to meet their commitments within…