Higher Education

The Government's vision is to "develop a competitive, innovative, and equitable Higher Education and Research System, a driving force for the emergence of Côte d'Ivoire."

To achieve this objective, several stakeholders are working in perfect synergy, namely, on one hand, the State through the Ministry in charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), and on the other hand, the Higher Education Institutions (IES) grouped into universities and grandes écoles.

Regarding the MESRS, in terms of Higher Education, its assigned mission is outlined as follows:

• monitoring the organization and functioning of public and private universities and grandes écoles;
• promoting continuing education in Higher Education;
• promoting university professionalization.

As for the IES, their purpose is to train quality Human Resources capable of being self-sufficient and contributing effectively to the socio-economic development of Côte d'Ivoire.

Since 2011, the Government has undertaken significant reforms and numerous investments aimed at improving the higher education offer. Among the major reforms, we note the adoption and implementation of the Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (LMD) system, the revision of training curricula for public universities, the development of distance learning, the development of quality assurance, and the signing of performance contracts between the State and public universities. Regarding investments, these include: (i) the rehabilitation and equipping of existing universities, (ii) the construction of universities in Man and San Pedro, the virtual university of Côte d'Ivoire, and the university of Bondoukou, (iii) the rehabilitation of university residences in Abidjan 1 and 2, (iv) the construction of 2 university residences in Korhogo and Man.

As of the year 2022, the higher education system consists of 8 public universities; 35 public grandes écoles, 127 private universities, and 444 private grandes écoles. These institutions have welcomed 293,610 students, of which 36.52% are in public universities, 16.96% in public grandes écoles, 13.07% in private universities, and 33.43% in private grandes écoles. The supervision of these students has been ensured by 22,069 teachers, of whom 21.80% are serving in public universities, 13.80% in public grandes écoles, 11.50% in private universities, and 52.88% in private grandes écoles.

In order to ensure the best study and living conditions for students, they have access to 29 university residences in Abidjan, Bouaké, Daloa, Korhogo, Man, and Yamoussoukro. These university residences have 9,404 rooms for 14,533 beds, which is far below the demand.

Some Indicators of Higher Education

Source: MESRS

As part of the implementation of the National Development Plan (PND) 2021-2025 and the Sectoral Education-Training Plan (PSE) 2016-2025 and the National Policy for Higher Education (PNES) 2019-2025, the main actions of the Sub-Sector of Higher Education and Scientific Research to be implemented are as follows:

• strengthening the legal, institutional, and governance framework of Higher Education and Scientific Research;
• professionalizing training offers by enhancing the implementation of the Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (LMD) system and creating Higher Institutes of Professional and Technological Training (ISFPT);
• constructing new public universities, notably in Bondoukou, Adiaké, Odienné, Daoukro, and Abengourou;
• developing distance learning;
• developing the private sector of Higher Education;
• strengthening the social infrastructure of the CROUs in Abidjan, Bouaké, Daloa, Korhogo, Man, San Pedro, and Bondoukou, through the construction of new residences and university restaurants and the rehabilitation and equipping of existing university residences.

Higher Education Institutions by Type and Status from 2013 to 2022

Source: MESRS