Agence universitaire de la Francophonie

The Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) (Association of Francophone Universities) is a global network of French-speaking higher-education and research institutions. Founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1961, as the "Association des Universités Partiellement ou Entièrement de Langue Française" (AUPELF), the AUF is a multilateral institution supporting co-operation and solidarity among French-speaking universities and institutions. It operates in French-speaking and non-speaking countries of Africa, the Arab world, Southeast Asia, North and South America and the Caribbean, Central, Eastern and Western Europe. As of 2020, the AUF has 1,007 members (public and private universities, institutes of higher education, research centers and institutions, institutional networks, and networks of university administrators) distributed throughout francophone countries on six continents. It is active in 119 countries, and represented by regional offices and information centers on campuses and in institutes. The Association receives funding from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and its headquarters are located at the Université de Montréal, Quebec.
History.
Origins.
In 1959, Jean-Marc Léger (Canadian journalist at "Le Devoir") and André Bachand (public-relations director at the University of Montreal) voiced the idea of a worldwide organisation which would create a link between French-speaking universities. On 13 September 1961 in Montreal, some 150 representatives of the French-speaking world created the foundation of what would become "Association des Universités Partiellement ou Entièrement de Langue Française" (AUPELF), French for the "Association of Partially or Entirely French-speaking Universities." From 1972 to 1975, Robert Mallet chaired the board of directors of AUPELF.
Expansion.
In 1987, during the heads of state summit in Quebec, an "exchange university" project was implemented under the name UREF ("Université des Réseaux d'Expression Français", University French Expression Networks). Its purpose was to create a university network for research and education. In November 1993, AUPELF became "AUPELF-UREF". In April 1998, in Beirut, AUPELF-UREF became the "Agence universitaire de la Francophonie".
Reforms.
To answer the Moncton action plan's request, the AUF undertook reforms in three fields in 1999:
In 2005, the AUF endowed a four-year program to meet the goals and priorities of the decennial strategic agreement of the institutional French-speaking world. This agreement, adopted in 2004 by member states of the French-speaking world, sets the principles and strategies of the institutional French-speaking world and controls its activities.
Structure.
The association is composed of seven bodies:
Activities.
The primary activities of the AUF are distributed among four scientific administrations, each aiming at a specific goal. These four branches are:
Partnerships.
The "Agence universitaire de la Francophonie" has developed partnerships with three objectives:
AUF numbers among its partners the European Union, UNESCO and the World Bank. It has been requested to assist in:
Publishing.
In 2001, the "Agence universitaire de la Francophonie" facilitated the creation of electronic French-language science journals. Francophone digital campuses were created to support the development of TIC (technologies of information and communication). AUF conducts workshops on the presentation and publication of scientific articles. Financial support is available for selected projects.
AUF worldwide.
The AUF's education office and headquarters are in Montreal; central services and a second education office are in Paris. Regional offices have been established in Montreal, Port-au-Prince, Dakar, Yaoundé, Antananarivo, Hanoï, Beirut, Brussels and Bucharest.
Golden anniversary.
2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the "Agence universitaire de la Francophonie". To mark the occasion AUF promoted the Francophonie throughout the year with events devoted to "50 years of the Agency", celebrating its role as an academic agent of the French-speaking scientific community.