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The purpose of this article is to analyse whether the reforms undertaken in France to modernise public universities have led to the deployment of practices based on New Public Management. The study is based on secondary sources (academic, governmental and regulatory) published in French and English and on Hood’s (1991) seven dimensions of New Public Management. The results reveal an accordion-like evolution: while certain practices tend towards the deployment of New Public Management, universities retain the principles of a model centred on the State and the collegiality.