From ENA to INSP: reforming recruitment and training of France's senior civil servants

The replacement of the ENA by the INSP is part of a reform of recruitment and training in France's senior civil service, which also includes the merger of the prefectural, diplomatic and inspectorate-general corps, as well as changes to recruitment. It is no longer the students who choose their corps according to their ranking: a match between the students' profiles and wishes and the employers' needs is being put in place, with priority given to the employers' needs. Maryvonne Le Brignonen explains how the INSP is reinventing ENA to diversify recruitment, overhaul the teaching curriculum by abolishing the ranking system, develop continuing education and research, and internationally raise its profile. She also discusses the expected impact of these changes on the way the State operates, on the profile of senior civil servants and their career paths, and on the public service's attractiveness.