The COVID-19 pandemic, the current socio-economic crisis that several countries in the world, including African countries, are going through, and the impacts of the war in Ukraine have reinforced the socio-economic challenges (poverty, food insecurity, lack of health coverage, etc.) that African countries, including Benin, were already facing. The race to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is becoming more and more of an ultimate challenge for these countries. This challenge requires African universities, especially Francophone ones, to go through a process of transformation, structuring and reform in order to better position themselves on the SDGs and to respond to the development priorities of each country. For this reason, the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin) has chosen to be part of the modernity, to mobilize for more equity and to strive for the excellence of training, real drivers of its commitment, especially as it is the Benin’s leading university and the largest in terms of student numbers, teacher-researchers, training establishments and courses of study.
UNIVERSITY OF ABOMEY-CALAVI: A UNIVERSITY BORN TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA AND BENIN
Established on 21st August 1970 under the name of University of Dahomey, it became University of Benin in 1975. It was later renamed as the University of Abomey-Calavi in 2001. The University of Abomey-Calavi’s vision is to build a more modern, autonomous and, radiant university that trains quality human resources and offers all users a friendly and harmonious working space for the development of Benin and other nations. The University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) comprises six (06) university centers, across the country, each housing a variable number of faculties, schools or institutes, and chairs. To date, UAC counts a total of 40 Training and Research Entities (TRE), including 20 schools or institutes, 6 faculties with large numbers of students, 2 faculties with low enrolment status, 3 chairs and 9 doctoral schools.
The University of Abomey-Calavi understood very early on the importance of evolving with the world and adapting to contemporary national and international changes in order to better respond to the development needs of Benin and West Africa. The higher education sector has, for example, shown resilience in the face of the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic through the promotion of e-learning. The University benefits from a political environment favorable for good governance and institutional reforms (e.g. appointment of leaders on merit, promotion of excellence in the university’s programmes and projects). Moreover, higher education has a priority status in the government’s action programme. This is illustrated by courageous reforms promoting good governance of the university (appointments of leaders on merit, promotion of excellence in university programmes and projects). Since 2021, in Benin and particularly at the University of Abomey-Calavi, the government has introduced a new merit-based process for appointing rectors and deans. Specific programs are established by a rigorous Board of Directors. The University now operates like a corporate entity, with an obligation of results. In addition, a relentless fight against corruption and sexual harassment, especially in training organizations, is being promoted (adoption of laws, creation of cells to protect victims and denounce predatory teachers). All this stimulates the University in terms of academics, research and international cooperation.
The RUFORUM Blog 
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