THE (ULTRA)ELITIST FRENCH NAPOLEONIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

• Published in: International Journal of Communication Research Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 168 - 169
• Main Authors: Csinta, Thomas, Guriţă, Doina, Csinta, Florentina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iasi "Apollonia" University of Iasi, The Communication Sciences Faculty 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Accessibility; Colleges & universities; Diplomas; Elitism; Higher education; Higher education institutions; Research facilities; Schools; Young adults
• ISSN: 2246-9265; 2069-752X

The French Higher Schools of Higher Studies (Les Grandes Ecoles), of much smaller „dimensions" than the universities (schooling, in principle, only a few hundred students) are higher education institutions of high academic level, (ultra)elitist, particularly selective (accessible only to a percentage of about 6-7% of graduates with a baccalaureate diploma) and performing, being considered in France, as the „traditional" and „royal" school (educational) chain towards a high-level professional career in the field fundamental sciences, in the field of engineering and technology (leading edge), of the national economy, of justice, of national security, of culture and civilization, in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals, in the literary and artistic field or in the field of the military and the armaments industry, as well as in the field of administration central public or state premises.Access to these schools, constituted in a national consortium (cluster) „La Conférence des Granders Ecoles CGC", an association created in 1973 (according to the association law of 1901), generally takes place after graduating from a CPGE preparatory school (Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles) with a duration of 2/3 years (post bac) equivalent to the first university cycle (Bachelor). The system of the French Higher Schools (Les Grandes Ecoles), according to the way in which they are accessible, as well as according to the way they function as educational (higher education) and research institutions, is unique in the world. By tradition, obtaining a „Grande Ecole" diploma is one of the greatest achievements of a young person French and as a result, a „sine qua non" condition for him to be considered an „intellectual", according to the modern definition of the term from a sociological point of view (a person with a high academic level who carries out, essentially, a spiritual activity creative in one or more areas of life, due to his capacity for synthesis and abstraction; deeply engaged in critical thinking, in research and self-reflection; author of works intended for the general public, which contribute to the progress of society, to its spiritual and material prosperity).