On the central campus of the University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC, Val-de-Marne), the “red carpet” that welcomes students and teachers has become a joke. The pieces of carpet that allow you to get through the rehabilitation works on the exterior slab are very red, but we are quite far from the atmosphere of Cannes. The university is under construction, which doesn’t help the overall impression of the old, charmless buildings.
“We are one of the most deficient universities [8 millions d’euros en 2023, et peut-être 10 millions en 2024]. Obviously, this is felt in the daily lives of the students”says Luce Camus-Mizzi, IEP student from Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne), dependent on UPEC, and elected member of the Crous de Créteil student union.
He cites some examples of recent dysfunctions: the collapse of the roof of a conference room, temperatures of between 5 and 10°C in some classrooms in winter, frozen teaching positions, replaced as best they can by temporary workers. “This does not put students in good conditions to study.”the union representative denounces, which does not necessarily explain all the reasons why the university finds itself in this situation. I imagine that, in the eyes of some, it does not contribute to the intellectual influence of Paris, like the Sorbonne. »
Unequal allocations
Because if many French universities face difficulties (60 out of 75 could end the year in deficit, warns the association of French Universities), some suffer more than others. “It is a system of inequalities nested within higher education.recalls Leïla Frouillou, professor of sociology at the University of Paris-Nanterre. Universities are worse off in terms of supervision than courses integrated into high schools, such as preparatory classes and BTS, which are also worse off than schools. And, within the university system, some establishments are less equipped than others. »
“The State invests little in universities in general, particularly those in the east of Paris, including UPEC”denounced SUD Educación 93, in a document published in March. The union pointed out discrepancies in public funding between universities. In 2022, the subsidy for public service fees was 4,882 euros per student at UPEC, compared to 9,913 euros at Sorbonne University. Another indicator: in 2021, the number of full-time equivalents worked per 100 students was 6.2 at Paris-Est Créteil University, compared to 13.2 at Sorbonne University. Figures that “make one dizzy”, commented the union organization.
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