FRANCOPHONE AFRICA: Database of diplomas launched

CAMES, the 18-member African and Madagascan Council for Higher Education, has launched a database of recognised qualifications in francophone Africa. With a couple of clicks to locate country and institution, the database gives information about diplomas, their relevant department or faculty, any available options, and how many years of higher education they require.

For example, it reveals that the Ecole Nationale de Médicine et de Pharmacie of the University of Mali offers a six-year diploma in medicine and pharmacy, created in 1986, with an option in pharmaceuticals.

CAMES, based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, aims to promote mutual equivalence and recognition of qualifications, harmonisation of higher education systems, and professional and student mobility between its members, which are all French-speaking African states*. Its activities include dissemination of documentation and research between universities, and running an online network to share information.

It has developed a common framework for academic careers at all levels, for which its Inter-African Consultative Committee assesses applications from lecturers and researchers to join its register of qualified personnel. Its specialised evaluation committees consist of university rectors and presidents, and national research directors.

The database of diplomas is contained in CAMES' recently updated website which General Secretary, Mamadou Moustapha Sall, says will improve the information it gives about the council, its activities and policies, and communicate better with its users, such as members of its committees and juries, candidates for registration and other interested parties.

Sall has also announced that the council's 25th conference on recognition and equivalence of diplomas will take place from 22 to 25 November in Cotonou, Benin. Evaluation of applications from public and private higher education institutions seeking to introduce new study programmes is about to begin.

* CAMES members are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea (which joined in January), Gabon, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo.