Conseil africain et malgache pour l'enseignement supérieur

Conseil africain et malgache pour l'enseignement supérieur
Name	Conseil africain et malgache pour l'enseignement supérieur
Formation	1968
Type	Intergovernmental organization
Headquarters	Antananarivo
Region served	Africa, Madagascar
Languages	French

Conseil africain et malgache pour l'enseignement supérieur is an intergovernmental body founded to coordinate higher education policy among Francophone and regional states in Africa and Madagascar, linking ministries and universities across the continent. It functions as a forum connecting institutions such as Université d'Antananarivo, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and Université Cheikh Anta Diop with regional entities like Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and continental bodies including the African Union. The council engages with international partners such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, and bilateral donors to harmonize standards and foster mobility across member systems.

History

The council traces roots to post‑colonial cooperation initiatives of the 1960s and 1970s involving actors like Léopold Sédar Senghor and institutions such as Université de Dakar and Université de Yaoundé. Its establishment paralleled the creation of the Organisation de la francophonie and the expansion of regional frameworks including the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community. Over decades it navigated tensions influenced by events like the Rwandan Civil War and policy shifts linked to structural adjustment programs promoted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Engagements with university networks such as the Association of African Universities shaped its evolution, while partnerships with the European Union and Agence française de développement supported programmatic growth.

Mission and Objectives

The council's mission aligns with accords referenced in instruments akin to the Lagos Plan of Action and objectives resonant with the Sustainable Development Goals, notably targets within UN SDG 4. It seeks to promote academic quality among institutions like Université de Lomé and Université de Kinshasa, facilitate recognition mechanisms similar to those of the Bologna Process, and enhance research collaboration exemplified by projects linked to Institut Pasteur and regional research centers such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Objectives include harmonizing curricula across members, improving doctoral training in collaboration with entities like CIRAD and Institut de recherche pour le développement, and supporting scientific mobility in the vein of programs run by the European Research Council.

Governance and Organization

Governance structures mirror intergovernmental models observed in bodies like the African Union Commission and incorporate representation from national ministries such as the Ministry of Higher Education (Madagascar) and university rectors from institutions like Université Hassan II and Université Mohammed V. Decision‑making occurs through statutory assemblies similar to sessions of the United Nations General Assembly and executive organs akin to boards found in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. Secretariat functions operate from Antananarivo with administrative procedures referencing best practices used by the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

Member States and Membership Criteria

Membership comprises sovereign states from regions represented by entities like Comoros, Mali, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire, reflecting patterns seen in blocs such as the Economic Community of Central African States and the Economic Community of West African States. Criteria for admission resemble those applied by the African Union and include commitments to legal frameworks comparable to treaties such as the Constitutive Act of the African Union. Membership obligations often require alignment with national laws administered by ministries analogous to the Ministry of Education (France) in terms of accreditation oversight and adherence to quality assurance principles familiar to agencies like the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

Programs and Activities

Programs span accreditation initiatives, joint degree schemes modeled on the Erasmus Programme, and research grants echoing mechanisms used by the National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust. Activities include conferences convening scholars from Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Makerere University, and University of Lagos, capacity building workshops supported by UNESCO and technical assistance missions comparable to those of the World Bank, and scholarship administration reminiscent of the Chevening Scholarships. The council administers frameworks for credit transfer analogous to systems found under the Bologna Process and fosters thematic networks in fields served by institutions like Institut Pasteur de Dakar and Covenant University.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Formal collaborations involve multilateral partners such as the African Union, Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, European Union, and bilateral partners like France and Canada. Research and capacity projects coordinate with organizations including UNESCO, World Bank, Agence française de développement, and private foundations similar to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Academic linkages connect member universities with counterparts such as Sorbonne University, University of Oxford, Harvard University, and regional hubs like University of Cape Town to promote exchange, joint supervision, and co‑publication in journals hosted by publishers like Elsevier and Taylor & Francis.

Impact and Criticism

Impact is visible in enhanced recognition of qualifications among institutions such as Université de Yaoundé I and improved mobility resembling effects of the Erasmus Programme, while research collaborations have produced outputs cited in outlets including The Lancet and Nature. Criticisms echo those leveled at comparable bodies like the African Union and Organisation internationale de la Francophonie: concerns about bureaucratic inefficiency, limited funding from donors like the European Commission, uneven capacity among members such as Chad and Mauritius, and challenges aligning national policies with regional frameworks influenced by systems like the Bologna Process. Debates continue around language dominance, resource allocation, and measurable outcomes in relation to benchmarks set by entities such as the United Nations and the World Bank.

Category:Intergovernmental organizations Category:Higher education in Africa Category:Organizations established in 1968