After months of crisis, Sciences Po Paris is on the verge of having a new director. Both governing bodies of the institution have chosen diplomat Luis Vassy, 44, as the future director of the prestigious school, following several months of governance crisis. The board of the Fondation nationale des sciences politiques (FNSP) selected Luis Vassy by 19 votes out of 25 voters, out of the two remaining candidates. The day before, the board of the Institute, the internal governance organ of the establishment, also voted in his favor.
Luis Vassy, a graduate of ENA, ENS Cachan, and Sciences Po, has been leading the cabinets of various foreign ministers since 2022. In his candidacy project, he emphasizes the need for Sciences Po to undergo a triple renovation in terms of its image, project, governance, and finances, with Europe at the center of it. He believes that the institution, which has had a tumultuous few years, needs to revamp its project to create internal peace and improve its image in the media, academic partners, and financial stakeholders. He also emphasizes adapting to the current global challenges in teaching and research.
For the master’s level, Vassy proposes the creation of a school of governance and climate policies, as well as strengthening ties with European studies. He aims to establish partnerships with democratic countries in the global south, such as India, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, to bring in diverse perspectives and practices beyond Western traditions. At the bachelor’s level, he suggests enhancing the common core curriculum and introducing a more robust methodological culture to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Vassy also mentions the possibility of adapting recruitment procedures on Parcoursup to recognize exceptional profiles that may not currently be identified based solely on academic achievements. He advocates for the establishment of an endowment fund and increasing the training of top management in private companies. His appointment is expected to put an end to the repeated governance crises at Sciences Po, with the most recent being the resignation of former director Mathias Vicherat in the midst of legal issues related to domestic violence.
Sciences Po has faced a series of crises and scandals surrounding its leaders in recent years, starting with Mathias Vicherat taking over from Frédéric Mion, who resigned for concealing allegations of incest against Olivier Duhamel. This was followed by the accidental death of Richard Descoings in 2012. The institution has also been embroiled in controversies related to pro-Palestinian student protests, including accusations of antisemitism and the occupation of an amphitheater which led to a visit by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a former student of Sciences Po.
