Emmanuel Macron's speech in Ouagadougou

On Tuesday November 28, French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivered a lengthy speech "to Africa" to students at the University of Ouagadougou. Among the many topics addressed, the following announcements were made concerning university cooperation:

First and foremost, Emmanuel Macron "wants all those who have graduated in France to be able to return, when they wish and as often as they wish, thanks to longer circulation visas, because studying in France is a privileged relationship that must continue and not be subject to a cut-off date".

In concrete terms, the French President wants to strengthen the presence of French higher education establishments in Africa. To this end, he has asked his two ministers, for Education and for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, to "work to double the number of university partnerships we have with Africa". He also wants to "increase the number of online courses, partnerships and double degrees, which will enable students here in Ouagadougou to obtain a degree from a French university".

Finally, Emmanuel Macron advocates welcoming"1,000 new African talents to Franceevery year,in the fields of business start-ups, research and education".companies, in research, in innovation, in culture, in sports", evoking a "Talents passport and the visa that goes with it". On this occasion, the President of the Republic announced the opening, before July 14th, of theMaison de la Jeunesse in Ouagadougou, which will bring together the most talented young people in Burkina Faso.Ouagadougou, which will bring together "Campus France, France Volontaires, research institutes and an incubator for young entrepreneurs ".

The final point raised was cooperation between European and African researchers. The conditions must be created to enable African and European researchers to work together on joint programs."What has been done successfully within the European Union with the European Research Council must be extended to African universities. We need to provide the financial resources to structure networks of European and African researchers".

Read the full speech

Read the Campus France Note on the international mobility of African students