EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

In France, people can access education as part of lifelong learning that gives everyone a chance for education, either in general education school, university or vocational education and training (VET). The educational levels are structured as follows:

• Secondary education is based on a Republican model of secular education. Successful completion of the “Baccalauréat” (Year 12 equivalent or Bac) will guarantee entry into France’s public universities. “Grandes Ecoles” or private institutions will require special entry exams, preparation courses and/or interviews.
• Undergraduate study consists of a Bachelor’s and a two-year ‘general’ university diploma. The French government funds students and overseas students pay very little for some degrees.
• Postgraduate study within the public system includes Master´s and a Doctorat (PhD).
• Grandes Ecoles offer two-three years study leading to a degree. There are 456 institutions of which the 308 government ones (engineering, teaching, civil service and administration) are considered as elite finishing schools in networking for the future.
• Many top business schools (“Ecoles Supérieures de Commerce¨) require fees and provide excellent facilities. Many are at a postgraduate level.
• Technical universities (IUT) dispense two to three year diplomas in technical sciences and have a vocational direction, offering 24 specialties.
• Vocational education and training incorporate a full range of vocational courses that are offered at post-secondary level.

THE FORMAL VET SYSTEM

Lifelong learning is a national obligation covering all ages and includes vocational and alternate training, in a school or under an employment contract. It includes initial training (general, professional and vocational education, including apprenticeship) and continuing vocational training for adults and young people already engaged in working life. Since 2009, every working person has a right to a professional qualification that should either be included in the National Register of Vocational Qualifications (RNCP – Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles); recognised in the professional sector classifications, or a vocational qualification certificates (CQPs).

1. Governance

The State is the only body that develops qualifications that can be accessed through initial education. Initial vocational education and continuing vocational training are managed by different ministries, have different funding sources and even different objectives.

All the qualifications developed by the State can also be accessed via lifelong learning and validation of work experience (VAE- validation des acquis de l’expérience). Beside the training programmes offered by the state and leading to formal qualifications, there are other training courses that lead to a certification. Those programmes are created, recognised and delivered by different bodies. Some of them can only be obtained via a training course. They can be accessed through the initial education system, but also through apprenticeship, continuing vocational training, validation of non-formal and informal learning. A qualification acquired through continuing vocational training has exactly the same value as one obtained in initial education.

NB: ISCED-P 2011
Source: Cedefop and ReferNet France.

Initial vocational education and training (IVET) is offered from upper secondary to tertiary education. After IVET, continuing VET (CVET) provides young people and adults with qualifications for the labour market. In initial education, each pathway prepares students for an exam to obtain a qualification. There are around 18 000 general and vocational education Qualifications. In lower secondary education, the “Brevet des collèges” is the lower grade school (general) qualification. With or without this qualification, there are several opportunities to progress to upper secondary and higher levels Just a few gateways exist between these pathways. The next level of education opens access to a university degree, including PhD. At the same level, other courses are available among different training providers, such as business schools, health and social establishments as well as the “Grandes écoles”. An example of the main vocational qualifications developed by the Ministry of Higher Education is the Advanced technician certificate (Brevet de technician supérieur – BTS) at EQF level 5. Other vocational qualifications are offered by the Ministry at levels III to I in the national qualifications framework, respectively EQF levels 5 to 7.

After collège, pupils can choose from three paths in upper secondary education (lycées) for three years (age 15 to 18). The general curriculum path leads to the end of secondary education general degree (baccalaureat – BAC) and allows the continuation of studies in superior education, including technology;

2. Levels and qualifications in initial vocational training

• CAP (Certificat d’ aptitude professionnelle –professional skills certificate) – EQF level 3 demonstrates a first level of qualification to its holder as qualified worker or employee in a given employment sector. There are around 200 CAP specialities relevant to the industrial, commercial and service sectors. CAP provides direct access to employment and/or to upper secondary vocational studies in order to prepare for a brevet de maitrise (BM – advanced
  diploma) or a baccalaureate, either at school or through an apprenticeship.
• The vocational baccalaureate (Baccalauréat professionnelle) – EQF level 4 is a qualification that allows successful candidates to enter a profession. It lasts three years (age 15-18) and offers almost 90 specialities.
• BMA (Brevet des métiers d’arts – Applied Arts certificate) is a national qualification in a specific skill, which aims to preserve and pass on traditional techniques while promoting innovation. It is available to holders of a CAP in the same professional sector. The programme consists of vocational training specific to each BMA speciality, general education, and work placements lasting between 12 and 16 weeks. There are currently 22 BMA specialities.

Higher education

The national framework for higher education degrees is structured around three levels: Bachelor degree, Master degree and PhD (Licence-Master-Doctorat – LMD in French). Alongside, there are also two-year technology degrees: the DUT and the BTS.

• DUT: (Diplôme universitaire technologique – Undergraduate certificate of technology) (EQF level 5) is a two-year vocational degree open to people with a baccalaureate or equivalent. It offers training in 24 specialities. Preparation for a DUT is provided by IUTs (university technology institutes) attached to universities. These qualifications prepare people for technical and professional management roles in certain sectors of production, applied research and the
  service sector. It is also possible for students to pursue their education, for example towards a Bachelor degree.
• BTS: (Brevet de technicien supérieur – advanced technician certificate) (EQF level 5). Study for the BTS takes place in the advanced technician section of a so-called vocational lycée. This course, open to people with a baccalaureate or equivalent, provides specialist education and training. It includes one or more internships. It gives access to a two-year professional qualification. It offers training in 88 BTS specialities, across all fields. While the purpose of the BTS is immediate entry into work, it is nevertheless possible to continue studying, in particular towards a vocational Bachelor’s degree.
• The Bachelor degree (Licence) -EQF level 6 is a national higher education qualification awarded after six semesters (3 years) at university, following the baccalaureate or via the accreditation of work experience (VAE). It is available in virtually all disciplines and sectors of activity. The academic and vocational programmes begin with a common multidisciplinary core subjects. The curriculum then becomes gradually more specialised. Once they have obtained their degree, students can then apply to enter the Master programme.
• The vocational Bachelor degree (Licence Professionnelle) is a national qualification issued by a university. It is open to people with a baccalaureate, but also those who have obtained post-baccalaureate qualifications, such as a BTS or a DUT.
• Master degree – EQF level 7
  The national Master degree requires the acquisition of 120 recognised (ECTS) credits, spread over four semesters. It is open to people with a Bachelor degree or through the accreditation of work experience. The Master degree provides access to high-level jobs for people with five years of education following the baccalaureate or access to PhD studies.
• The EPSCP (scientific, cultural and professional public institutions – établissements publics à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel ). The EPSCPs consist of universities and some 50 other establishments (mainly public engineering schools). This means that private educational bodies cannot award Bachelor or Master degrees, unless they have signed a partnership agreement with an EPSCP.

3. Funding IVET

All funding sources combined, expenses for general, technological and vocational education were estimated, in 2014, at EUR 146 billion (state funds 54.4%, 24.8% regional funds, 11.2% household and 8.9 % company funds).

4. Work Experience Accreditation (Validation des acquis de l’expérience – VAE)

VAE has offered a third route of access to qualifications and professional certificates, alongside initial education and lifelong learning. Through the VAE, anybody can obtain a full qualification or certificate based on his or her professional experience. In order to obtain accreditation, the applicant (self-employed, employees or volunteers) must submit a dossier and perhaps undergo an interview with the jury for the relevant qualification, which then decides whether to award the chosen qualification fully or partially.

5. The national register of vocational certifications

All professional qualifications recognised by the State and the social partners, at national level, have been registered in the national register of vocational certifications (Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles – RNCP). RNCP provides individuals and companies with up-to-date data on professional qualifications. It includes public and private qualifications, based on initial and continuing vocational training, provided that they are vocational in nature. The RNCP is managed by the national committee of the vocational certification (CNCP – commission nationale de la certification professionnelle), a body accountable to the Ministry Responsible for Vocational Training. The RNCP includes three categories of certification:

• vocational qualifications and degrees awarded on behalf of the State, developed by ministries with the support of Joint Consultative Committees (CPC).
• certificates of professional qualification (CQP), developed by and under the responsibility of the social partners. These qualifications are not automatically registered in the RNCP.
• other vocational qualifications, described as ‘qualifications voluntarily registered with the RNCP’, produced by training organisations, professional bodies and ministers without CPC backing.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN AQUACULTURE

This follows the framework described above with a wide range of levels and qualifications in
initial training and continuing vocational training for adults and young people already engaged in working life as well as a few non-degree courses.

Training in aquaculture is very open, and often accessible without age limit. Agricultural high schools offer training courses in freshwater aquaculture, maritime high schools in marine aquaculture.

• CAPM in shellfish aquaculture (Certificat d’aptitude professionnelle maritime –professional skills certificate) – EQF level 3.
  The CAPM allows to acquire knowledge and know-how in shellfish farming, as well as in the use and maintenance of production equipment, in the packaging of products or in the control of quality to become a skilled worker under the responsibility of an employer in a shellfish company. The schooling takes place over two years and includes a 12-week internship on a farm. The diploma allows to access other studies such as the BEP (see next section). This diploma is offered by 5 high schools or training centers.
• BEPA (Brevet d´enseignement professionnel Agricole, Productions aquacoles), BEPM (Brevet d’études professionnelles maritimes – Cultures marines) and BPAM (Brevet professionnel agricole et maritime).
  BEPA allows to work on aquaculture farm as a skilled worker. BPEM allows to work as a responsible or employee in aquaculture. BPAM is compulsory to obtain an aquaculture concession in the maritime public domain. There are 13 BEPA, 9 BEPM and 5 BPAM offered by high schools or training centres.
• Baccalauréat (BAC) in aquaculture production or in marine culture. This diploma allows to work as highly skilled worker or as a technical responsible or as an chief operating officer assistant. CAPM, BEPA, BEPM are usually required to access this training. There are 12 BAC in aquaculture production and 8 BAC in marine culture,
• BPREA (Brevet professionnel Responsable d’exploitation agricole, Productions aquacoles) is a 9-month life-long learning (level IV) that helps to prepare own installation in aquaculture. There are 6 BPREA offered by CFPPA (Centre de formation du Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Alimentation) or CEMPAMA ( Centre d’étude du milieu et de pédagogie appliquée du Ministère de l’agriculture).

Higher education

• BTSA (Brevet de technicien supérieur agricole, Productions aquacoles) is a two-year diploma that can be accessed after a BAC. This diploma allows to work as a higher standard technician on an aquaculture farm, in a research lab or in an aquarium. There are BTSA offered by 10 different high schools.
• DU (Diplôme d´Université in aquaculture) is a one-year diploma delivered by the University of Montpellier 2 (Faculté des Sciences and CREUFOP) allowing to work as high standard technicians in aquaculture or aquariology.
• Diplôme d’établissement Cadre technique Production et valorisation des ressources marines is a 3-year diploma delivered by the CNAM-Intechmer allowing to work in the field of marine resources valorisation and exploitation including aquaculture and fisheries, aquariology, marine biotechnology.
• Licence professionnelle Aquaculture continentale et aquariologie (LACA) is a Bachelor´s degree delivered by the University of Nancy-Brabois allowing to work in aquaculture and aquariology as production or processing managers.
• Licence professionnelle Aquaculture is a Bachelor´s degree delivered by 3 Universities in France with different specialities including animal production, aquaculture and environment sustainable management, biology applied to exploited ecosystems.
• Master is delivered by three different university in France with different specialities including: exploitation of costal living resources, food industry/aquaculture and fisheries, animal production and quality/biology and biotechnology applied to aquaculture.