Technology experts from African nations met in Douala to improve training strategies in Central African universities.

Technology experts from Central African universities met at the Douala Sawa Hotel last Monday to examine ways by which a common and efficient educational system can be adapted to suit modern technological exigencies. The meeting which grouped professionals from Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, RCA, RD Congo, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad was chaired by the Secretary General in the Ministry of Higher Education, Dominique Mvogo. Others present included specialists from the Université du Mans, France and several stakeholders from national and regional organisations.

The purpose of the UNESCO-African Development Bank (ADB) conclave is to seek common restructuring modalities for higher education in the sub-region, as well as put in place a regional network of excellence. The reforms are expected to refurbish university educational standards, as well as adopt a modern approach to teaching technology and scientific research. Before now, research and professional training in Central Africa were limited to minor structures that mostly functioned in partnerships, and with relatively limited finances - a set back which punctured major development initiatives, delayed important pedagogic projects and adversely affected the quality of research.

For three days, the experts will harmonise their views on the envisaged approach, set up a master plan for "University Technology Excellence Network" and its calendar of operation. They will also draw up a term of reference and constitute an agenda for the Higher Education Ministers' Conference for the CEMAC/ECCAS zone billed for September 2010. The Conference of Higher Education Ministers, which will regroup all ministers from the sub-region, is expected to come up with resounding resolutions which will guide the application of the new technology teaching approach across all the universities in the central Africa Sub-region. Dr. Corbin Michel Guedegbe of the ADB said the bank is determined to finance the projects, adding that scientific research and technological training falls within the bank's major priority in its Medium-Term Strategy for 2008 to 2012.