Key facts
- French university Sciences Po is considering opening a campus in Brussels.
- An internal report suggests Brussels lacks a significant elite academic institution.
- The proposed campus would specialize in EU-level research and training.
- The move aims to attract students interested in European affairs who currently opt for other universities.
- The leadership of Brussels' existing SciencePo faculty reacted coolly to the proposal.
French university Sciences Po is exploring the possibility of establishing a new campus in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union. An internal report obtained by POLITICO argues that Brussels, despite being a hub for EU institutions, paradoxically lacks a prominent elite academic institution.
The proposed campus, tentatively named "Maison de l’Europe de Sciences Po, Paris-Bruxelles," would aim to specialize in EU-level research and train future "Eurocrats." The report draws a parallel with Washington D.C., which hosts prestigious universities like Georgetown and Johns Hopkins SAIS, suggesting Brussels is missing a similar anchor.
This initiative is partly driven by a desire to compete for students interested in European affairs, who currently tend to choose institutions like the College of Europe in Bruges or the London School of Economics. Sciences Po seeks to win back these students by offering a dedicated Brussels-based program.
However, the proposal has met with skepticism from the leadership of Brussels' existing SciencePo faculty. Jean-Benoît Pilet, dean of Université Libre de Bruxelles’ Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, expressed doubts, noting that similar projects have previously failed.
The report was authored by a committee that included notable figures such as former French minister Laurence Boone, ex-Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion, and novelist Giuliano da Empoli. The proposal comes amid broader discussions about Sciences Po's standing and recent controversies, including a pro-Palestinian protest that led to accusations of antisemitism, which were condemned by French President Emmanuel Macron and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.