Mali will host a key conference of academic leaders from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) in April 2025. The event will bring together representatives from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to foster collaboration in higher education and scientific research.
Mali’s Council of Ministers announced the upcoming Conference of Heads of Higher Education Institutions of the AES. This meeting will provide a platform for academic and scientific authorities from the three member states to develop a shared vision for integrating and pooling higher education resources and research programs.
The AES, established on July 6, 2024, represents a significant step towards regional cooperation in the Sahel. The organization aims to strengthen collaboration in areas ranging from security and economic development to education and scientific research, addressing the numerous challenges faced by member states.
The conference theme, “Contribution of Higher Education and Scientific Research to the Strategic Development of the Confederation of Sahel States,” highlights the commitment to leveraging education as a driving force for sustainable socio-economic transformation.
Participants will work to establish stronger ties between universities and research centers in the three countries. A comprehensive review of higher education and research systems will identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for synergy. Focus areas will include the development of centers of excellence in strategic sectors such as agriculture, health, renewable energy, and social sciences. The conference will also lay the groundwork for a joint research program.
A key objective of the initiative is to promote academic mobility within the AES. The conference will explore mechanisms to facilitate exchanges between students, doctoral candidates, faculty, and researchers, as well as the sharing of best practices between institutions.
The higher education systems in the three countries face considerable challenges. For example, Burkina Faso had approximately 117,725 students enrolled in 2017/2018, representing roughly 600 students per 100,000 inhabitants. Mali’s Rural Polytechnic Institute for Training and Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) had 3,369 students enrolled in the 2021-2022 academic year. These figures underscore the need for enhanced regional collaboration to improve access to and the quality of higher education in the Sahel.
This initiative is part of a broader vision for sustainable regional development, positioning universities and research centers as key drivers of socio-economic progress. By hosting this conference, Bamako aims to place Mali at the center of a dynamic academic and scientific network, potentially inspiring similar integration projects across West Africa.
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