The Agence universitaire de la Francophonie 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, 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. The AUF has 944 members distributed throughout francophone countries on six continents. It is active in 104 countries, and represented by regional offices and information centers on campuses and in institutes. The Association receives funding from the OIF, and its headquarters are located at the Université de Montréal, Quebec.
History
Origins
In 1959, Jean-Marc Léger and André Bachand 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, French for the "Association of Partially or Entirely French-speaking Universities."
Expansion
In 1987 during the heads of state summit in Quebec, an "exchange university" project was implemented under the name UREF. 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:
Modification of its status
Administration
Programmes
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.
General assembly: Main body of the AUF. Every four years, the 774 members of the association gather to decide goals and strategy for the four next years. It oversees the board of directors.
Association council: Enhances solidarity among higher-education and research institutions of the association, encouraging them to pursue relevant objectives
Board of directors: The management body, comprising university and government representatives
Scientific council: Decides the methodology of AUF programs and ensures their academic quality. Its members are selected for their technical and professional skills in culture, science and technology.
President: Elected by the general assembly for a single four-year term, they head the association council and board of directors.
Rector: Elected by the board of directors for a four-year term, their primary function is to implement financial commitments by higher-education and research institutions.
University development and co-operation fund: Administered by the rector
Activities
The primary activities of the AUF are distributed among four scientific administrations, each aiming at a specific goal. These four branches are:
Language and communication: Supports French-language development through instruction in the scientific disciplines; promotes multilingualism and cultural diversity by stimulating the production, spread and teaching of scientific knowledge in French. Coordinates research projects, training and curriculum reform in linguistics, culture, literature and education. Monitors meetings and scientific conferences, emphasizing publication. Significantly, more than 2,250 specialists improve understanding of the French-speaking world and the impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on societies.
Scientific skill reinforcement: Acts as liaison between scientific departments and regional offices. Administers French-speaking digital campuses and institutes in four-year cycles. Evaluates relations between the association and the French-speaking scientific community in the fields of the environment, water, energy, climate, sustainable development and well-being of populations; supports research.
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. AUF conducts workshops on the presentation and publication of scientific articles. Financial support is available for selected projects.
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.
