Agence d'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (AERES)

Agence d'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (AERES)
Name	Agence d'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur
Formation	2006
Dissolution	2013
Type	administrative agency
Headquarters	Paris
Region served	France
Leader title	Président
Leader name	Alain Fuchs

Agence d'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (AERES) was a French administrative agency established to assess research units, higher education institutions, doctoral schools and research training activities. Created in the mid-2000s, it operated at the intersection of national policy and institutional quality assurance and interacted with numerous universities, grandes écoles and research organismes across France.

Historique et création

The agency was instituted in 2006 during reforms associated with Jacques Chirac, Dominique de Villepin, and parliamentary debates including participants from Assemblée nationale (France), Sénat (France), and ministries such as the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France). Its foundation followed earlier evaluative practices by organisations like Centre national de la recherche scientifique and Comité national de la recherche scientifique, and reacted to European initiatives including the Bologna Process, the Lisbon Strategy, and standards promoted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Prominent figures linked to its inception included university presidents from Université Paris-Sorbonne, leaders of École Normale Supérieure, and administrators from Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives who advocated for a centralized evaluation body. The legal basis drew on statutes debated in sessions of the Conseil d'État and texts prepared by cabinets of ministers such as Valérie Pécresse and predecessors in higher education portfolios. AERES ceased operations in 2013 when reforms led to successor arrangements involving agencies like HCERES.

Missions et attributions

AERES held mandates to evaluate research units, doctoral schools, and institutions such as Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (Paris 6), and the École Polytechnique. Its attributions included periodic assessment of teams within agencies like Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale and Institut national de la recherche agronomique, appraisal of laboratories associated with CNRS, and review of partnerships with organisations such as Inserm and INRIA. The agency produced opinions used by funding bodies including Agence Nationale de la Recherche and oversight entities like Cour des comptes. AERES also contributed to France’s reporting under European frameworks involving the European Commission and advisory work for the Conseil scientifique.

Organisation et gouvernance

The governance structure featured a président appointed by executive authority and a conseil scientifique including academics from institutions such as Sorbonne Université, Université Grenoble Alpes, and representatives from grandes écoles like Sciences Po and HEC Paris. Operational divisions coordinated panels drawing experts from international institutions like University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Max Planck Society. Committees interfaced with professional councils such as Conseil national des universités and agency partners including Commissariat à l'énergie atomique. Administrative oversight involved interactions with the Ministry of Budget (France), and procedural guidance was influenced by jurisprudence from the Conseil constitutionnel.

Méthodes d'évaluation et critères

AERES applied peer review, site visits, self-assessment reports, and bibliometric indicators to evaluate subjects ranging from humanities departments linked to École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales to engineering laboratories connected with École Centrale Paris. Criteria referenced outputs recognized by bodies like Scopus, Web of Science, and standards of award-granting institutions such as CNRS Bronze Medal and L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science. Panels included experts from institutions like Harvard University, University of Tokyo, and ETH Zurich to ensure international benchmarking. Evaluation cycles mirrored practices from the Research Excellence Framework and incorporated doctoral supervision assessments consistent with norms promoted by European University Association.

Activités et impacts

AERES published evaluation reports affecting resource allocation at universities such as Université Lyon 1 Claude Bernard and influencing mergers exemplified by reorganisations at Université de Strasbourg or consortia like Université Paris-Saclay. Its ratings informed habilitation à diriger des recherches processes overseen by faculties at Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier and influenced recruitment decisions at institutes like Institut Pasteur. The agency’s outputs fed into national statistical compilations produced by INSEE and policy papers drafted by think tanks including Fondation pour l'innovation politique and academic networks such as Conférence des présidents d'université.

Critiques et controverses

AERES attracted criticism from university stakeholders including faculty unions like Syndicat national de l'enseignement supérieur and researchers at institutions such as Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis who contested reliance on bibliometrics and external reviewers from organisations like Nature Publishing Group. Debates appeared in media outlets referencing editors of Le Monde and commentators linked to France Culture and legal challenges considered precedents involving the Conseil d'État. Critics argued evaluations affected autonomy of establishments like Université Panthéon-Assas and ERC-grant applicants associated with CNRS and could privilege certain disciplines represented by elite schools such as École Polytechnique and HEC Paris. Reforms leading to the agency’s replacement cited these controversies alongside administrative reviews by bodies such as Inspection générale de l'administration.

Category:Former French government agencies