Organisation and Missions
The Rectorat (education authority of Paris) and the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
The Rectorat of the Académie de Paris is housed in the Academic Palace of the Sorbonne.
Mr. Christophe Kerrero (photo), the Rector of the Île-de-France Region, Rector of the Academy of Paris, Chancellor of the Universités de Paris et d’Île-de-France (appointed by decree of the President of the French Republic) is responsible for the whole educational system of the Académie de Paris.
The post of Rector was created under the reign of Napoleon I with the decree dated March 17, 1808. France was divided into Academies and each one was placed under the authority of a Rector. The Academy of Paris was unique as it was directly attached to the government.
Indeed, in order, the successive Rectors of Paris were:
- The Grand Master of the Imperial University (1808 – 1815)
- The Chairman of the Commission on Public Instruction (1815 – 1820)
- The Chairman of the Royal Council for Public Instruction (1820 – 1821)
- Charles Nicolle (1821 – 1824)
From 1824 to 1920, the Minister of Public Instruction, Grand Master of the University, was the Rector of the Academy of Paris. He was assisted by a Vice-Rector.
The Rectors of Paris from 1808 to 1824
The Rectors of Paris from 1824 to 1920
Since 1920, the Academy of Paris is no longer directly administered by the Minister but by a Rector, just like in the other Academies. The Rector is appointed by the President of the French Republic during Cabinet meetings.
After the events of May 1968, the University of Paris was divided into 13 separate universities (9 in central Paris and 4 in the Greater Paris area) with each university electing its own President. The Rector of the Academy of Paris was now to be the Chancellor of the Universities of Paris and Chairman of the Committee of Rectors of the Ile-de-France region (Paris and the surrounding area). The Rector of Paris is also Honorary President of the Conference of French Rectors.
The Rectors of Paris from 1920 to 1971
Nowadays, the Rector is appointed by decree of the President of the French Republic, decided during Cabinet meetings. Thus, (s)he is the representative in the Academy of the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research. The Rector of the Academy of Paris is responsible for all public education in the Academy, from nursery schools to universities, and also has authority in private education.
As a result, the Rector’s duty is to implement the decisions made at national level, duly taking into account the specificities of the academic territory.
The Rector of Paris is assisted in his work by a Vice-Chancellor of the Universités de Paris for higher education matters and by a Director of the Academy for primary and secondary education matters.
The Rectors of Paris since 1971
The Vice-Chancellor of the Universités de Paris
The Vice-Chancellor of the Universités de Paris, who holds the rank of Rector, is appointed by decree of the French President.
Consequently, he assists the Rector in matters relating to higher education, in matters affecting both secondary and higher education, and in anything that has to do with the Chancellerie as a public establishment.
In his role as Chancellor, the Rector is in charge of the coordination of the Parcoursup procedure for pupils in the Ile-de-France region who have just completed secondary education. This procedure enables them to apply for higher education courses, especially in the 16 universities of the Greater Paris area, in Classes Préparatoires (courses which prepare students for entry into the Grandes Ecoles) or in BTS courses (post-secondary vocational training courses). The Chancellor ensures that the procedure is carried out in full accordance with the law and communicates with the 8 Parisian universities. In relation to the COMUE (research and higher education centres), he plays a part in issues that concern all the Parisian higher education institutes. The Chancellor of the Parisian Universities is also in charge of the academic supervision of private higher education institutes, notably in constituting boards of examiners representing the Rectorat (educating authority) and diploma validation. The Chancellor acts as a Government Commissioner in public interest groups (scientific foundations, thematic advanced research and scientific networks (RTRAs and RTRSs) and he is in charge of higher education personnel management. The Chancellor of the Parisian Universities initiates and monitors operations involving property and major building work at the universities. He is the Chairman of Board of Administrators of the EPAURIF (the public establishment in charge of university facilities in the Ile-de-France region).
Finally, the Chancellerie is a public institution that administers the joint estate of the universities, descendants of the old Université de Paris. In that regard too, the Rector-Chancellor is responsible for the safety and the upkeep of the Sorbonne building.
Under the authority of the Rector-Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor of the Parisian Universities, the General Secretary of the Chancellerie administers both the Academy in all matters affecting higher education as well as those relating to both secondary and higher education, and the public establishment.
The Vice-Chancellors of the Parisian Universities since 1976
| EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Mr. Christophe KERRERO, Rector of the Île-de-France Region, Rector of the Academy, Chancellor of the Parisian Universities Ms Christine NEAU-LEDUC, President of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne Mr. Stéphane BRACONNIER, President of Université Paris II – Panthéon Assas Mr. Daniel MOUCHARD, President of Université Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle Mr. Edouard KAMINSKI, President of Université Paris Cité Ms Nathalie DRACH-TEMAM, President of Sorbonne Université Mr. El Mouhoub MOUHOUD, President of Université Paris Dauphine – PSL Ms Sophie MAHIEUX, regional Director of Public Finances |
MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE RECTOR-CHANCELLOR
(order of the Rector applying article 9, decree n°97 dated December 24, 1997) Mr. Pierre GRÉGORY, Honorary Vice-Chancellor of the Parisian Universities, Member of the Institut de France Mr. Hervé MACHI, Magistrate, Chamber’s President at the Cour d’Appel de Paris Ms Sylvie SANCHEZ, Director of the Greater Paris fiscal authority Ms Laurence de PÉRUSSE des CARS, President-Director of Louvre museum Ms Katherine FLEMING, Provost, New York University Mr. Bernard STIRN, member of the State Council, member of the Institut Mr. Hervé LEMOINE, President of the Mobilier national Mr. Alexandre GADY, Professor of modern art history
MEMBERS IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY Jean-François DAGUES, Administrator of Public Finances appointed for the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris Mr. Alexandre BOSCH, General Secretary of the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris Mr. Nicolas PAULHIAC, Financial advisor of the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
EXTENDED GROUP FOR MATTERS RELATING TO JOINT OWNERSHIP Ms Annick ALLAIGRE, President of Université Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis Mr. Philippe GERVAIS-LAMBONY, President of Université Paris Nanterre Ms Estelle IACONA, Acting President of Université Paris Saclay Mr. Jean-Luc DUBOIS-RANDÉ, President of Université Paris-Est Créteil Mr. Christophe FOUQUERÉ, President of Université Sorbonne Paris Nord |
The Director of the Académie de Paris
The Director of the Académie de Paris is appointed by decree of the President of the Republic. He assists the Rector in matters relating to schools, junior and senior high schools, special education establishments, to the training and management of staff working in them, and to adult education.
The Director of the Académie de Paris is assisted by Schools Inspectors and Directors of Education at département level in the administration of primary and secondary education.
Under the authority of both the Rector and the Academy Director, the General Secretary of the Academy is in charge of administrating the Academy’s primary and secondary education in matters concerning schools, junior and senior high schools, training and management of staff working in them, and adult education.
The Directors of the Academy since 1993
| Sorbonne : Chancellerie des Universités de Paris (higher education) 47, rue des Ecoles 75320 Paris cedex 05 tel : 01 40 46 22 11 |
Site Visalto : Direction de l’académie de Paris (primary and secondary education) 12, boulevard d’Indochine 75019 Paris tel : 01 44 62 40 40 |
The missions of the Chancellerie and its role in higher education
Paris is a university city that benefits from its strong international appeal. With a student population of 300,000, Paris is at the heart of the Ile-de-France region, which is home to 16 universities as well as to the key players in scientific research. As the fifth most important centre of research and development in the world, this “capital city region” alone accounts for 37% of public research nationally. Within this whole system, the Sorbonne plays a central part. It is home to the offices of the Rectorat of the Academy of Paris (education authority) and to the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris and houses several higher education institutes as well as research laboratories.
In his role as chief education officer for the region, the Rector-Chancellor works in the Sorbonne in the Academic Palace. He represents the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research. The duties carried out by the Rector and the Chancellor are as old as the University of Paris itself. Since 1971, these are performed by one and the same person, the Rector-Chancellor, who is both Rector of the Academy of Paris and Chancellor of the Parisian universities. He sees to it that the state policies in relation to higher education in the Academy of Paris are duly implemented. As such, he chairs or is a member of various governing boards. He is the director of the Chancellerie, which is a public corporate body with financial autonomy and under the authority of the Minister of Higher Education.
The Chancellerie has many different missions:
Administering the property of the universities, notably their shared, joint patrimony.
As such, it administers the “Sorbonne” building, the common home of all the universities in the Île-de-France region and a national and international symbol of the French university system.
Guarantor of the Sorbonne’s brand image, which it seeks to protect and develop.
The Chancellerie is there to help develop the research reputation of the universities. And so, every year, in order to support the running of university laboratories and the work carried out by young researchers in all disciplines, it awards prizes that are financed by donations and bequests granted to the old University of Paris.