The Court of Auditors criticized the operation of the prestigious School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS), pinning a lack of transparency and an "
inter-self
" within the public establishment, where the failure rate of students is high.
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After examining its accounts and its management, "
it appears that the school must renew its model
", write the Sages of rue Cambon, in a summary signed by the first president of the Court, Pierre Moscovici, and made public on Tuesday. .
The national institution "
will not succeed without the help of the State
", estimates the opinion, addressed in March to the Minister of Higher Education and Research Frédérique Vidal, who answered it last week .
“Imbalanced” governance
The Court criticizes a governance deemed "
unbalanced
" of the EHESS, where more than 800 teachers and researchers develop their knowledge and train students. This governance "
remains centered on the preeminence of the assembly of teacher-researchers
", the body which elects the latter and decides on strategy. The "
growing role
" taken by this body limits, according to the Court, the development of a true "
scientific strategy
", while the scientific council of the School "
does not fulfill its role
" - which the ministry refutes.
The Wise Men also pinpoint the election of teacher-researchers, "
in total independence from national authorities
", as well as "
highly endogenous
"
recruitment
.
Pointing out the “
risks of the inter-self
”, they recommend initiating “
a reform to ensure the transparency and openness of the process of electing teacher-researchers
”.
Frédérique Vidal assures her that "
work will be carried out
" to increase the number of external personalities.
39% failure rate in master 2
Since the opening of the EHESS to the master in 2005, "
the monitoring of students is relegated to the background
", further affirms the Court, which underlines "
a failure rate of 39% in master 2
", and a duration “
abnormally long
”
theses
. Another fear: the EHESS is "
in a fragile and isolated position
", because it "has
shown itself incapable of integrating itself durably into a university group
", as illustrated by "
the failure of its partnership with the 'Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)
”.
Established in Paris, where its head office is located, as well as in Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, the EHESS must integrate the Condorcet university campus in Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis), of which it is a founding member.
