On June 19, 2026, the conference room was filled with a shared ambition as Minister of State for Higher Education, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo, welcomed Madame Nelly Banaken Elel, Commissioner for Gender Promotion and Human Development of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC).
Surrounded by their teams, the two parties discussed the crucial issues linking higher education to social dynamics, with a focus on converging universities, training, and the job market to create a true excellence hub rooted in the economic reality of the Central African basin.
This ambition is part of the national triptych guiding university policy since the orientation law of July 25, 2023: 'Quality Assurance, Professionalization and Digitization of teaching, and Employability of graduates.'
Within this new framework, five cooperation axes have been defined between CEEAC and the Ministry of Higher Education, including promoting regional university dialogue in Central Africa under CEEAC's aegis.
For Cameroonian students, the prospect of an expanded academic network translates into concrete opportunities: cross-border internships, joint research projects, and dual degree programs.
The social implications are just as significant, with the cooperation aiming to reduce access gaps to higher education between men and women by integrating the gender dimension into program design.
