1996-2006: “creativity, quality and reactivity”*

In April 1996, Richard Descoings took over from Alain Lancelot as director of the IEP and administrator of the Foundation. Major reforms were undertaken in order to raise Sciences Po to a high level of international recognition. From September 2000, courses were brought into line with the aims of the Bologna process, while the first international satellite campuses were set up in regional cities around the country. The number of partnerships with universities outside France reached 260 and the student population is currently nearing the 6,000 mark. An outreach programme known as “Conventions d’Education Prioritaire” has been introduced to encourage access for students from less privileged social backgrounds.

On the research side, Gérard Grunberg succeeded Jean- Luc Domenach as Dean of Research and Academic Aff airs in January 2001. Research is now more than ever a priority at Sciences Po. In concrete terms, that commitment was expressed by an important increase in research spending between 1996 and 2004. Recent years have also seen the restructuring of research centres and a dynamic rethinking of teaching disciplines.

The research centre facilities have been reinforced and, in 1998, the Centre for Research on the World Economy, (GEM) was set up. In 2001, the Centre for the Sociology of Organizations (CSO) once again became a part of Sciences Po. December 2005 saw the creation of the Centre for Socio- Political Data (CDSP) directed by Alain Chenu. Its core mission is the documentation of research. In January 2005, the European Centre of Sciences Po was given an expanded brief and became the Centre for European Studies, (CEE), directed by Renaud Dehousse. The CEE is a multidisciplinary resource centre on European issues that has enabled Sciences Po to become remarkably well integrated in the European networks of the European Commission’s Research Framework Programmes.

A dynamic real estate policy has allowed researchers to work in highly favorable surroundings. The Doctoral School is now housed in a new building at 199, Boulevard Saint Germain. In 2000, the CERI left 4, Rue de Chevreuse to move into new premises at 56, Rue Jacob, where it was joined several months later by the Sciences Po Centre for History. Aft er many years at 9, Rue de la Chaise, the CEVIPOF (Centre for Political research) moved to 98, Rue de l’Université. The Sciences Po Library enjoyed an unprecedented period of improvement and expansion during this time, thanks to in-depth renovation of its premises and an active acquisitions policy initiated by Joëlle Muller and continued since March 2004 by Michel Gardette. In 2005, the Library possessed some 920,000 volumes of published works or bound periodicals, covering a vast range of social and political sciences.

* 1. The wording is taken from the September 2005 report of the National assessment committee: “Thus, ‘creativity, quality and reactivity’ could be the key words to describe the IEP which is, indisputably, a renowned establishment deserving of its reputation.” (p.II)