Burkina Faso: A leap towards modernising higher education thanks to broadband connectivity in public universities
The Burkinabe government is taking a major step in modernizing higher education by deploying high-speed internet in nine public universities. The launch ceremony, presided over by Prime Minister Dr. Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélèm de Tambèla at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, marks a significant milestone in the educational landscape of Burkina Faso.
In response to the needs expressed by public universities in 2022, the Higher Education Support Project (PAES) was initiated to establish modern infrastructure ensuring quality internet connectivity in Higher Education and Research Institutions (IESR). As a result, nine out of ten institutions now benefit from high-speed internet access, facilitating quick and efficient online connectivity.
This project, a collaboration between the Burkinabe government and the World Bank, represents a total investment of 4.059.467.930 CFA francs. It connects 174 buildings and will ultimately serve between 150.000 and 200.000 students, as well as 2.000 to 3.000 teaching researchers and 1.500 to 2.000 administrative staff.
This initiative is of paramount importance for the IESR as it improves the working conditions of teaching researchers, researchers, and administrative staff while providing students with easy access to online resources. The government is thus demonstrating its ambition to transform higher education and research institutions into true centers of excellence with global connectivity, promoting the development of local solutions.
This increased connectivity aligns with the government’s broader vision to foster talent expression and promote modernized governance within universities and research centers. It is a significant step towards better integration into the global knowledge economy and towards providing quality education that meets the challenges of the 21st century.
