FRANCE: Linguist to lead francophone agency

Jane Marshall 11 November 2007

Bernard Cerquiglini, 60, a professor of linguistics attached to the University of Paris-7, Denis-Diderot, is the new head of the French-speaking University Agency. The agency supports and finances a network of more than 650 international universities and research centres with French-language departments.

Cerquiglini is currently director of the Centre for French and Francophone Studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in America. He will start the full-time post as chancellor of the AUF on 7 December, with responsibility for the staff and programmes of the agency’s international bureaux, dividing his time between its two headquarters in Paris and Montreal.

He is perhaps best known to the French-speaking public as presenter of “Merci professeur”, a programme on linguistics broadcast daily on TV5Monde, France’s international television channel*. He tackles questions on French grammar, spelling, vocabulary, Anglicisms and origins of words – such as how the Latin natalis (birth) evolved over the centuries to become today’s French noël (Christmas).

Among previous posts he has been director of the Institut National de la Langue Française, vice-chair of the Conseil Supérieur de la Langue Française and chair of the Observatoire National de la Lecture. He has also led government commissions on the reform of spelling and on national languages in France. He has written many academic books about the French language.

The AUF, founded in Montreal in 1961, aims to promote higher education and research in French-speaking universities and centres. Through its 62 branches operating under nine regional offices throughout the world, it runs a network of 659 establishments in 74 countries, organising cooperation programmes and annually making over 2,000 mobility grants to students, teachers and researchers.

Among current activities it is promoting gender equality in higher education and research and communication technologies including online distance learning and digital campuses.

The French government contributes the lion’s share of its budget of over €40 million (US$587 million), with contributions from Canada, Quebec, Belgium’s French-speaking community, Switzerland and Cameroon.

See Professor Cerquiglini in action
www.auf.org

Receive UWN's free weekly e-newsletters

Sponsored Article

Getting to net zero, one community at a time

University of Victoria staff

Accelerating Community Energy Transformation is a University of Victoria-led collaborative initiative that brings together over 40 partners, including Indigenous knowledge keepers and community leaders, to create innovative place-based solutions for energy system transformation.

Promoted by the University of Victoria.

Sponsored Article

Africa pays a premium for global climate change sluggishness

Stellenbosch University staff

Africa needs to stop paying the price for the rest of the world’s recalcitrance to act fast enough in response to the irrefutable conclusions that climate change is real and that the impact of global warming could be devasting, says Professor Guy Midgley, interim director of the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Promoted by Stellenbosch University.

Sponsored Article

Innovations to ensure energy savings in a hot, arid climate

UAE University staff

Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University have shown that the potential benefits of building energy savings and a cooler indoor environment, as well as improved cooling effect on air temperature at pedestrian level, strongly indicate that a cool roof with high solar reflectance and albedo is a promising strategy for buildings in regions with hot, arid climates.

Promoted by United Arab Emirates University.

Sponsored Article

A new global university ranking with an ethical mission

Aftab Dean

A new university ranking system aims to serve as a catalyst for positive transformation in higher education, ensuring that universities create an environment grounded in integrity and sustainability that inspires and supports students and staff in the development of novel solutions to global challenges.

Promoted by Globethics.net.

Sponsored Article

SDG progress report launches university into new territory

University of Pretoria staff

In the publication of its first progress report on its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, the University of Pretoria is navigating new territory at the same time as it is acknowledging its clear stewardship role in protecting the environment and biodiversity.

Promoted by the University of Pretoria.