QU joins network of French higher education institutes

Doha: Qatar University (QU) has joined the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the university has announced. 

This was disclosed during a press conference in the presence of QU President Dr. Hassan Al Derham; Ambassador of France to Qatar, H E Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Regional Director of the AUF, Dr. Jean-Noël Baléo; Prof. Lara Karam Boustany, President of the Univesite La Sagesse in Lebanon and President of the Conference of Rectors and Presidents of the Middle East Region (CONFREMO); Cesar Wazen Director of International Affairs Office in QU; as well as a number of Vice Presidents and officials from QU. 

The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie is a worldwide association for institutions of higher education and research. Founded almost 60 years ago, it groups more than 1,000 institutions of higher education and research spread over the five continents in more than 120 countries. It is also the operator of the Francophonie Summit for higher education and research.

QU President, Dr. Al Derham said, “We are very pleased to have joined the AUF, due to its significance, which will open wide horizons for the university to have cooperation with prestigious French universities, as well as in Canada and important French-speaking African and Arab countries.”

He added, “Qatar University, in its role as the national university, sees to take advantage of the distinguished relations between Qatar and France, in all fields, and to expand this cooperation to include educational aspects. The university built this relationship years ago, through its many French offerings.

Qatar also includes many French-speaking schools. The inclusion of Qatar University to the AUF will open the opportunity for us to work together with French universities in the academic and humanitarian fields.”

Regional Director of the AUF, Dr. Baléo said AUF works to promote student entrepreneurship. “We have a network capacity so we work on the international networking and cooperation, and of course quality of education.” He also noted that such a partnership could include student exchange between member universities and faculty exchange, as well as the exchange of research databases.

The French envoy said that the membership of QU to AUF reflects the will of the university to develop the teaching of the French language but also training and research in the field of Francophone literatures and civilisations. He also expressed his interest and support of any initiative taken by AUF and QU, which would enrich Francophone activities, training and/or research.