Organisation

The High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education is the independent public body responsible for evaluating the French higher education and research system. It is organised around a general secretariat and seven departments, each of which is supported by several councils.

The Presidency

  • Coralie Chevallier, President of Hcéres 

By decree of the President of the Republic, Coralie Chevallier was appointed President of Hcéres on 3 March 2025.

She holds a PhD in cognitive sciences from the University of Lyon-II (2009) and a qualification to supervise research (HDR) from the École normale supérieure – PSL (2014), and is a research director at Inserm, in the Department of Cognitive Studies at the ENS – PSL.

She takes up her post having previously served as Vice-President for Education at Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) University and as a member of the Executive Board of the Institut Curie.

 

  • Philippe Vellozzo, Director of Communications
  • Gabrielle Grandguillaume, Director of Governance and Public Affairs

 

The General Secretariat

  • Camille Jannic, Secretary-General

The General Secretariat provides the support functions necessary for the institution’s day-to-day operations and the fulfilment of its missions. The General Secretariat comprises the following support departments:

- Human Resources Department – Meriem Bissaad, Director

- Finance, Purchasing and Services Department – Camille Jannic, Secretary-General

- Legal Affairs Department – Gabriel Ballif, Head

- Business Applications Department – Corine Mouradian, Director

- Digital Services Department – Jean-Christophe Martin, Director

 

The departments 

To carry out its activities, Hcéres is organised into seven departments.

Four departments are responsible for evaluation in France: The Institutional Evaluation Department is responsible for organising the evaluation of the strategic and operational management of public institutions (universities, higher education institutions and national research organisations). The Education and Training Department evaluates the management of their educational provision. The Research Department organises the evaluation of the management of their scientific policy and research units. The Private Higher Education Department is responsible for evaluating private sector institutions and study programmes.

The Europe and International Department is responsible for international evaluations and cooperation initiatives. The Observatory of Science and Technology is tasked with conducting strategic studies and analyses of the scientific and technological world. The French Office for Scientific Integrity contributes to the definition of a national policy on scientific integrity and carries out the tasks entrusted to Hcéres in this area, including that of acting as the national observatory.

 

Institutional Evaluation Department 
Nicolas Arnaud, Acting Director | Murielle Gac, Head of Department from 1 November

Study Programme Department
Sophie Meynet, Director | Éric Boutouyrie, Head of Department  

Research Department
Arnaud Tourin, Director | Fanny Meunier, Deputy Director | Emilie Verany, Head of Department

Evaluation Coordination Department
Louis Buyssens, Director

Private Higher Education Department
Jérôme Méric, Director | Florian Marquis, Head of Department

Europe and International Department
Pierre Courtellemont, Director | Nicolas Zorzin, Head of Department

Science and Technology Observatory
Nicolas Carayol, Director| Nicolas Morin, Head of Department

French Office for Research Integrity
Michel Dubois, Director | Hélène Le Meur, Head of Department

 

The Accounting Office

The Accounting Office is responsible for the institution’s accounting management and the monitoring of its financial transactions.

  • José Morales, Accounting Officer
  • Olivier Héliès, Authorised Representative

 

The board

Hcéres is governed by a board comprising twenty-four members, with equal representation of men and women, appointed by decree for a term of four years, which may be renewed once. The chair of Hcéres is appointed from among its members.

 

The councils

  • Council for Management Institutions, Courses and Qualifications

  • Council for Engineering Schools

  • Council for Specialised Institutes and Institutions

  • Scientific Advisory Board of the Observatory of Science and Technology

  • Advisory Board of the French Office for Scientific Integrity

 

Scientific advisers 

Hcéres draws on scientific advisers from the academic community or civil society to organise the scientific aspect of evaluations and contribute to methodological discussions.

 

The experts

A distinctive feature of the evaluations organised by Hcéres is the formation of expert committees tailored to the specific nature of the entity being evaluated. Hcéres thus draws on experts from various scientific and professional communities.