Guide to Secularism at the University

On Secularism Day, December 9, France Universités released a fully updated and revised version of its Guide to Secularism. This guide is intended to assist staff in applying the principle of secularism within the specific context of the university by balancing respect for individual freedoms with the principle of neutrality in public services—a task that is not always easy. Vincent THOMAS, president of the University of Burgundy, France Universités’ secularism liaison, and the main architect of the guide—of which he is a co-author—will lead a conference and discussion on the guide and secularism in higher education.

Download the Guide to Secularism from the France Université website

Beyond the personal perceptions each of us may have, the principle of secularism is based on a set of specific legal rules. Some situations are not easy to untangle. To whom does the requirement of neutrality in public services strictly apply? Are there limits to the right to religious expression for university students? To what extent do interpretation of the rules and relevant case law come into play? Drawing on the guide, this conference and discussion will strive to provide clear and concrete answers to these questions.

Following a presentation of the new version of the guide—and in particular the new features it includes—Vincent THOMAS will answer questions from participants. In preparation for this session of discussion and debate, please feel free to think about the questions you’d like to discuss with the speaker and to share with us any challenges or concerns that may have arisen in your professional activities at the university. You can list them at the end of the registration form.

Speaker:

• Vincent THOMAS, Secularism Advisor for France Universités, President of the University of Burgundy.

For further reading

Free online module for public officials:

• “Fundamentals of Secularism” on the MENTOR platform

Resources produced by the Observatory on Secularism:

• Video, in a nutshell: What is secularism?
• Secularism in the Civil Service: Civil Servant Fact Sheet
• Public Service Users: User Profile