Agence universitaire de la Francophonie

Agence universitaire de la Francophonie
Motto	Donnons toutes ses chances à l'excellence
Formation	13 September 1961
Type	Francophone network
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Membership	812 university associations^[1]
Official language	French
Leader	Jean-Paul de Gaudemar (since 2015)
Budget	41,100,000 € (2013)^[2]
Website	http://www.auf.org

The Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) (Francophone University Association) is a global network of French-speaking higher-education and research institutions. Founded in Montreal, Canada in 1961 as the Association des Universités Partiellement ou Entièrement de Langue Française (AUPELF),^[3] the AUF is a multilateral institution supporting co-operation and solidarity among French-speaking universities and institutions. It operates in the French-speaking countries of Africa, the Arab world, Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. The AUF has 812 members (public and private universities, institutes of higher education, research centers and institutions, institutional networks, and networks of university administrators) distributed throughout francophone countries. It is active in 104 countries,^[4] and represented by regional offices and information centers on campuses and in institutes. The Association receives funding from La Francophonie, and its headquarters are located at the Université de Montréal.

History

Origins

In 1959, Jean-Marc Léger (Canadian journalist at Le Devoir) and André Bachand (public-relations director at the University of Montreal) voiced the idea of a world-wide organisation which would create a link between French-speaking universities. On 13 September 1961 in Montreal, some 150 representatives of the French-speaking world created the foundation of what would become Association des Universités Partiellement ou Entièrement de Langue Française (AUPELF),^[5] French for the "Association of Partially or Entirely French-speaking Universities."

Expansion

In 1987 during the heads of state summit in Quebec, an "exchange university" project was implemented under the name UREF (Université des Réseaux d'Expression Français, University French Expression Networks). Its purpose was to create a university network for research and education. In November 1993, AUPELF became AUPELF-UREF. In April 1998 in Beirut, AUPELF-UREF became the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie.^[6]

Reforms

To answer the Moncton action plan's request, the AUF undertook reforms in three fields in 1999:

Modification of its status
Administration
Programmes

In 2005 the AUF endowed a four-year program to meet the goals and priorities of the decennial strategic agreement of the institutional French-speaking world. This agreement, adopted in 2004 by member states of the French-speaking world, sets the principles and strategies of the institutional French-speaking world and controls its activities.^[7]

Structure

The association is composed of seven bodies:

General assembly: Main body of the AUF. Every four years, the 774 members of the association gather to decide goals and strategy for the four next years. It oversees the board of directors.
Association council: Enhances solidarity among higher-education and research institutions of the association, encouraging them to pursue relevant objectives
Board of directors: The management body, comprising university and government representatives
Scientific council: Decides the methodology of AUF programs and ensures their academic quality. Its members are selected for their technical and professional skills in culture, science and technology.
President: Elected by the general assembly for a single four-year term, they head the association council and board of directors.
Rector: Elected by the board of directors for a four-year term, their primary function is to implement financial commitments by higher-education and research institutions.
University development and co-operation fund: Administered by the rector

Activities

The primary activities of the AUF are distributed among four scientific administrations,^[8] each aiming at a specific goal. These four branches are:

Language and communication: Supports French-language development through instruction in the scientific disciplines; promotes multilingualism and cultural diversity by stimulating the production, spread and teaching of scientific knowledge in French. Coordinates research projects, training and curriculum reform in linguistics, culture, literature and education. Monitors meetings and scientific conferences, emphasizing publication (particularly online publication). Significantly, more than 2,250 specialists improve understanding of the French-speaking world and the impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on societies.
Economic development: Fundraising and public relations
Scientific skill reinforcement: Acts as liaison between scientific departments and regional offices. Administers French-speaking digital campuses and institutes in four-year cycles. Evaluates relations between the association and the French-speaking scientific community in the fields of the environment, water, energy, climate, sustainable development and well-being of populations; supports research.
Education: Supports communication and information technology in higher education and research; encourages digital development and offers training in the Technologies of Information and Communication (TICE) for teachers, students and staff).

Partnerships

The Agence universitaire de la Francophonie has developed partnerships with three objectives:^[9]

To establish more universities and giving them significant developmental roles
To develop ties between the AUF, its member institutions and developmental agencies (foundations, NGOs, territorial collectivities, etc.)
To increase development in the following ways:
- Place the association's knowledge at the disposal of the projects in question
- Promote scientific evaluation
- Use tools of university and scientific co-operation

AUF numbers among its partners the European Union, UNESCO and the World Bank.^[10] It has been requested to assist in:

Project management
Technical evaluations
Information technology and communication
Developmental networks

Publishing

In 2001, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie facilitated the creation of electronic French-language science journals.^[11] Francophone digital campuses were created to support the development of TIC (technologies of information and communication). AUF conducts workshops on the presentation and publication of scientific articles.^[12] Financial support is available for selected projects.

AUF worldwide

The AUF's education office and headquarters are in Montreal; central services and a second education office are in Paris. Regional offices have been established in Montreal, Port-au-Prince, Dakar, Yaoundé, Antananarivo, Hanoï, Beirut, Brussels and Bucharest.^[13]

Golden anniversary

2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie. To mark the occasion AUF promoted the Francophonie throughout the year with events devoted to "50 years of the Agency", celebrating its role as an academic agent of the French-speaking scientific community.

Networks

Research

Institutional

Veterinary medicine (AEEVTPLF)
Management (CIDEGEF)
Medicine (CIDMEF)
Pharmacy (CIDPHARMEF)
Law (CIFDUF)
Engineering (CITEF)
Journalism (Théophraste)
Dentistry (CIDCDF)
Information sciences (AIESI)
Science and technology (CIRUISEF)
Urbanization (APERAU)

References

External links

50th-anniversary website (French)
Official website (French)
AUPELF-UREF's website (French)
Francophonia's Encyclopaedia (French)
Francophonia's official website (French)

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