The amount of financing from the World Bank reached 456 million dollars, or 266.6 billion CFA francs, for African Centers of Excellence (Aecs). A project which concerns, according to a press release from the institution received yesterday at EnQuête, 19 countries including Senegal.

Strengthening the quality of higher education and applied research in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stim) is what the World Bank wants, through the funding allocated to African countries. ''Currently, Africa produces few graduates in Stim compared to other sectors. However, the continent needs to further develop advanced skills in these areas, to increase its productivity and promote its economic transformation,'' reads a press release from the institution received yesterday at EnQuête. And, the first African Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE-Impact) project aims to “improve the quality and quantity” of postgraduate education at selected universities. As well as its impact on the development of beneficiary countries, through regional specialization and collaboration in the fields of Stim.

''With this new project, the World Bank brings to 456 million dollars, or 266.6 billion CFA francs, the total amount of its funding for African Centers of Excellence (Aecs). This also includes the previous phases, Cea1 ($165 million) and Cea2 ($148 million), which are currently being implemented,” the note states.

In fact, within the framework of these three projects, 58 Cea are operational in 45 universities in 19 countries, 24,000 students are registered there, including 10,500 in Masters and 2,400 in Doctorates. In addition, 34 programs of these centers are certified in accordance with international quality standards, thus demonstrating that African higher education meets international standards. ''The World Bank's support for African Centers of Excellence is a great example of how countries can come together for the good of all'', says Director of Regional Integration Coordination in Africa of the West, Rachid Benmessaoud.

According to him, under this regional program, each country specializes in a set of disciplines and encourages exchanges of students and professors, so that a greater number of disciplines are covered. ACEs also establish “strong partnerships” regionally and internationally to improve the quality of higher education and research.

The new Cea-Impact concerns 16 centers of excellence and two ''emerging centres''. While the Centers of Excellence aim to strengthen regional capacities for high quality postgraduate education and conduct applied research of international caliber, the “emerging centers” will strengthen their programs, mainly at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. mastery in a priority area. ''We are pleased to help address the key challenges facing the higher education sector in Africa, so that it can better contribute to regional development priorities. The Cea-Impact project responds well to the continent's needs in terms of scientific and technical skills to ensure its industrial development,” explains education specialist and co-leader of the project, Ekua Bentil.

More than 83.629 billion CFA francs for 5 countries including Senegal

According to Bm officials, the new project is “well aligned” with the strategies of African regional economic communities. But also, on the national development strategies of the beneficiary countries. It also contributes to the achievement of the twin objectives of ''poverty reduction'' and ''shared prosperity'' of the Breton Woods institution. And, is part of the WB's regional integration strategies for Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. ''It was designed following the successful implementation of ongoing projects under the first and second phases of the Cea project and focuses on computer science, hydraulic and electrical engineering, transport and logistics, environmental sciences as well as targeted agricultural and health sciences,” the note states.

Each of these centers is regionally unique and effectively promotes regional specialization. In addition, they have succeeded in retaining the “best African talents” on the continent, attracting the “best African teachers” from the diaspora and ensuring the dissemination of knowledge across the sub-region. On this, it should be noted that a total financing of 143 million dollars or more than 83.629 billion CFA francs was granted by the Bm, on March 27 to 5 African countries. An amount in the form of credits and grants from the International Development Association (IDA) to help, in particular, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea and Senegal.