The CPU becomes France Universités

Institutions

On Tuesday 13 January 2022, Manuel Tunon de Lara, president of the Conference of University Presidents (CPU, for Conférence des Présidents d’Université) has announced during its 50th years Congress the new denomination of the Conference. And the CPU has become France Universités During this day of sharing about higher education, research and innovation, French President Macron and the Minister in charge of higher education praised the strengthening of the visibility of French institutions in the international.

A new denomination for a better representation

“For the 50th anniversary of the CPU, we have decided to change its name and visual identity”. This is how Manuel Tunon de Lara announced the new name of the CPU, which became “France Universités” during the Congress held for the 50th anniversary of the conference on 13 January 2022 in the auditorium of La Sorbonne.

France Universités seeks to ensure a better representation of institutions and their diversity to better promote the French university example, and particularly in Europe and the world. France Universités also seeks to become the best cooperation entity for universities in France.

France Universités includes executive directors from more than 120 higher education institutions. The entity represents all French universities and many additional research and higher education institutions. The mission of this association is to act as a power for proposals and negotiations towards public authorities at national, European and international scale.

A congress to celebrate the international visibility of universities

To celebrate its 50 years, the CPU has become France Universités, and held a day of exchange about themes in relation with higher education, research, innovation and student life, in the context of economic and social changes and the climate challenge.

During this day, Frédérique Vidal, French minister in charge of higher education, gave a speech in which she recalled that French higher education institutions improved their “international visibility” over the last five years. She also declared that with “five French universities in the Top 100 of the Shanghai ranking, 83 institutions awarded in the themed ranking, including 40 in the Top 100, France is the first university power in Europe and the 3rd worldwide”.

French president Macron closed the congress with a live and remote speech in which he reminded that French higher education institutions, including universities, managed to improve their visibility at international scale, in part thanks to the support provided by the government, whether it is through progress in international rankings or an increase of the number of researchers supported by the European Centre of Research.