Toff we go! From this Wednesday, January 15 and until March 13, final year students can register and express their wishes among the 24,000 courses offered by the Parcoursup higher education admissions platform. But how can we be sure that we are making the right choice, when fraudulent commercial practices have been increasing for several years, such as those requiring deposits before registration or promising non-existent apprenticeship contracts?
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Is the higher education platform free from problematic cases? How can you be sure of obtaining a recognized diploma at the end of your training? We asked the questions to Jérôme Teillard, Parcoursup project manager at the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
The Point : Are all existing training courses listed on Parcoursup?
Jérôme Teillard: No, not all post-baccalaureate training is on Parcoursup. The platform brings together almost all of the training offered by public establishments and private establishments having a contract with the State. On the other hand, certain training courses offered by private establishments without a contract with the State are not included. And this even though they are omnipresent on advertising spaces, student fairs, social networks and private platforms! Even if we cannot conclude that they are absolutely all bad, this is not a good sign, because Parcoursup imposes a certain level of quality and transparency on the training courses that appear there.
Which ?
The establishments present on Parcoursup undertake to provide clear and detailed information on their training courses, such as the status of the establishment, tuition fees, job opportunities and even teaching methods. They must also guarantee the transparency of the criteria for examining applications, by explaining precisely how candidate files will be evaluated. The same goes for apprenticeship training: only those registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) which reports to the Ministry of Labor, and having obtained Qualiopi certification, can be referenced on Parcoursup.
ALSO READ Parcoursup: be careful, families on the verge of a nervous breakdown! What is the risk in choosing a course that is not on Parcoursup?
For example, families may have difficulty obtaining clear details on tuition fees, job opportunities or educational arrangements. Some courses even ask for pre-registration fees very early with the impossibility of canceling or getting a refund, which can restrict candidates' freedom of choice. Finally, you should know that certain courses deliver bachelor's or master's degrees that are not recognized by the State and are not compatible with the LMD system (license, master's, doctorate) which prevails throughout Europe, which limits the possibilities for continuation. of studies. Such a diploma is therefore also difficult to promote on the job market.
These fraudulent or non-transparent practices are not anecdotal. They have multiplied with the explosion of lucrative private higher education in recent years. They have been denounced several times by investigations, such as those by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Repression in 2022, or by two MPs in a parliamentary report submitted in spring 2024.
All the training courses presented on the platform do not offer the same educational method and the same level of diploma recognition.
So better to opt for training on Parcoursup?
Yes, because the platform offers a first level of transparency and quality, but you should know that all the training courses present on the platform do not offer the same educational method and the same level of diploma recognition. It is important to make an informed choice. ALSO READ Our advice for completing extracurricular activities on Parcoursup
How do you know, concretely?
Parcoursup offers at the top of each “training sheet” an “identity card”, which brings together its essential data. The status of the establishment (public, private under contract with the State or private without contract) gives a first indication of the level of control exercised by the State. If the first two offer all the guarantees since the training provided by these establishments is controlled by the State, private establishments outside of contracts which offer apprenticeship training may have training of more variable quality. This is why it is important to find out about the training provided. Is this recognized by the State? Does it confer a BTS, a BUT, a license or a bachelor's degree diploma, which will then allow you to continue with a master's degree in France or abroad? If so, a small blue hexagonal macaron will symbolize it.
Are training courses that do not have this badge to be eliminated automatically?
It all depends on what you want to do. If you wish to continue your studies after obtaining your diploma (bac + 2 or bac + 3) it is better to opt for training recognized by the State, because the diploma obtained will allow you to continue without problem in the third year of license or in master's degree. If you wish to do your work-study studies and are absolutely certain that you want to move into the world of work immediately after obtaining your diploma, unrecognized training – therefore without a blue badge – is possible, provided you take a few precautions: there are never any fees to pay for apprenticeships and we cannot tempt you with other paid training courses.
Candidates must also ensure that this diploma is registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP), which allows their diploma to be promoted on the job market. It is also recommended to check the educational methods, opportunities and tuition fees of these courses, by asking the establishment directly, by going to open days or by contacting students and alumni via LinkedIn.
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Answer
Does this RNCP title protect against fraudulent practices by these establishments?
Not directly. Around fifteen training courses present on Parcoursup (out of the 24,000 listed!) were identified last year for their misleading or fraudulent commercial practices. The Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research, Élisabeth Borne, and her Minister responsible for Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste, announced on Friday January 10 the establishment of a new system to combat this type of practice. It provides for the delisting of training courses that do not respect the Parcoursup charter. This will apply before the deadline for expressing wishes on the platform, March 13. This will exclude fraudulent establishments already identified and remind everyone of the importance of the rules. But this should not prevent families from remaining vigilant and asking the right questions.
