AUF selects higher education and research projects

The Central Africa and Lakes bureau of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, or AUF, has started a selection process for higher education and research projects from the region for support from the agency.

The Agence d'Information d'Afrique Centrale, or ADIAC, reported that the bureau, known by its French acronym BACGL, and the regional commission of experts were meeting at Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, Congo to examine 29 programmes proposed from among the 73 universities in the region.

From these about 10 would be chosen for funding by the AUF based on criteria including scientific excellence and relevance to the region.

Rene Joly Assako Assako, president of the commission, said: "We are here to weigh up with objectivity and understanding the proposals of our colleagues who are asking for support from our common institution, the AUF," ADIAC reported.

Alain Ondoua, director-general of BACGL, said the bureau represented the AUF's scientific council whose aim was to ensure scientific credibility of the projects selected from calls for bids launched by BACGL each year.

Armand Moyikoua, rector of the University Marien-Ngouabi, said: "University research hits funding problems that the institutions often cannot take on alone," reported ADIAC. AUF support for research in the Central Africa region was much appreciated, he added.

No details of how much funding the AUF would provide under this year's programme were available. Last year, contributions from the agency were set at a maximum of EUR20,000 (US$27,700) or EUR50,000, depending on circumstances, according to rules governing the bids.

Countries covered by BACGL are Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Rwanda. The bureau is based in Yaounde, Cameroon.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.