New normative framework for doctoral studies in Cameroon

5 January 2026

 

The AUF Regional Directorate for Central Africa and the Great Lakes, represented by its Project Manager, took part in the formal ceremony on Monday, 5 January 2026 to present the normative framework for doctoral training in Cameroon. This vital tool is the outcome of several months of collaborative work, fundamentally designed to strengthen and standardize the mechanisms for supervising PhD students in national higher education institutions

 

The initiative forms part of the implementation of the grant agreement signed in 2022 between the AUF and the French Embassy in Cameroon, the main focus of which is to build the institutional capacity of Cameroonian universities. Through this initiative, the AUF reaffirms its commitment to fostering an open collaborative French-speaking scientific community that is attuned to contemporary development challenges

 

This framework drew on proven success models such as the regional doctoral colleges – Mathematics, Computer Science, Bio-geosciences (MATHINBIO) / humanities and social sciences (CDHS) – and the PIRCPA project (Interregional Project for Multidisciplinary Capacity Building in Africa), implemented in partnership with IRD since 2023. These programmes have helped to bring the institution into line with international standards in terms of teaching methods and ethical standards in doctoral supervision, for students and academic staff alike

 

L’instauration de ce référentiel commun marque une étape décisive vers une formation doctorale plus efficiente, cohérente et qualitative, consolidant ainsi le lien entre recherche fondamentale et innovation.

 

The introduction of this common reference framework marks a decisive step towards more efficient, consistent and high-quality doctoral training, thereby strengthening the link between fundamental research and innovation