FRANCE: Sarkozy's reforms herald French 'Ivy League'

Radical plans to create a French 'Ivy League' are gathering pace as the first winners of a new elite universities scheme worth EUR7.7 billion (US$10.1 billion) start to receive cash, writes Jack Grove for Times Higher Education.

The Initiative d'Excellence scheme is part of the biggest shake-up in French higher education for almost 40 years. It is designed to establish five to seven world-class universities capable of competing internationally for the best students and academics. Driven by President Nicolas Sarkozy, the proposed 'Sorbonne League' will require non-selective universities, the highly selective grandes écoles and France's independent research organisations to work together for the first time in exchange for investment.
Full report on the Times Higher Education site