Mauritania launches its higher education sector strategy with IIEP-UNESCO Dakar

21/02/2022

Mauritania launched its Higher Education Sector Strategy 2030, developed through collaboration between IIEP-UNESCO Dakar and the Mauritanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in early February 2022. 

Higher Education Mauritania

The strategy focuses on increasing the share of higher education in the gross domestic product, increasing the allocations to the higher education sector, improving institutional governance and increasing the level of internal and external efficiency of the sector.

The Minister, Her Excellency Mrs. Amal Sidi Mohamed Cheikh Abdallahi, presided over the ceremony in the company of Koffi Segniagbeto, head of office, IIEP-UNESCO Dakar.

"The drafting of the higher education and research sub-sector’s strategy 2022-2025 in Mauritania is clearly a sign of strong political will of the government. This is all the more significant as, unlike what’s observed almost everywhere in the sub-region, the whole process is government-funded, with no external financial support, particularly from external partners. The government's leadership and the effective involvement of government officials at all stages of the process should also be acknowledged," said M. Segniagbeto. 

"The drafting of the higher education and research sub-sector’s strategy 2022-2025 in Mauritania is clearly a sign of strong political will of the government. This is all the more significant as, unlike what’s observed almost everywhere in the sub-region, the whole process is government-funded, with no external financial support, particularly from external partners. The government's leadership and the effective involvement of government officials at all stages of the process should also be acknowledged."

Koffi Segniagbeto
Head of Office, IIEP-UNESCO Dakar

To strengthen the external efficiency of the higher education sector, the strategy calls for the diversification of career guidance structures in order to improve the integration of graduates into the labour market, as well as better management of the flow of baccalaureate holders - the exit exam from secondary education - entering higher education institutions.

“First, it’s a question of providing the means to manage the expected flow of baccalaureate holders from upper secondary education into higher education. This requires not only sustained funding (infrastructure and teaching equipment, teaching and support staff, etc.), but also organisation and consultation, particularly with the Ministry of National Education in charge of secondary education. Finally, the strategy gives a prominent place to sector governance, in particular through the quality assurance of academic and professional training, as well as facilitating insertion to the labor market for higher education graduates,” said M. Segniagbeto.

While the development of the strategy is a major step forward, more efforts are required for its implementation.  

“Apart from the necessary resources and their alignment with the objectives, an important challenge concerns the capacities needed at all levels for the successful implementation of the strategy. Addressing this challenge could start with disseminating the strategy to all actors and stakeholders involved in its implementation so that all their actions converge towards its strategic objectives. Regular evaluation of the implementation may also be necessary and will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress and to ensure that the objectives are being met," he added.