French Universities Form Foundations

French universities, long entirely dependent on the state for their finances, have set up 39 private foundations to receive donations, the country’s higher education minister, Valérie Pécresse, announced Wednesday.

The initiative, made possible by a change to French law in 2007 giving universities more autonomy, is intended to allow donations from alumni and private individuals as well as from businesses. Nearly half the 83 universities have already set up foundations or partnerships, and an additional 60 are expected to be announced in the coming months.