13th Conference of the rectors of member universities of the Francophonie University Association (Agence universitaire de la Francophonie - AUF)

The opening session on May 7th

The Conference is one of the largest regional fora on higher education and research.

This time, the opening session was on the topic "The dialogue between universities and businesses: Challenges and social responsibilities of higher education" with 4 specialized sessions on:

• Training curricula and socio-economic requirements
• Research and transfer among the AUF's member universities
• Cultural development and start-ups
• University governance and challenges of social responsibility.

The President of CONFRAISE's message on the topic of this year's Conference stated: The contemporary world opens up new opportunities and at the same time many challenges for higher education. Today, unversities face increasing competition because learners are better equipped to choose where to study, especially thanks to the tools provided by modern sciecne and technology. To ease this competition, universities have to take a number of measures, most important of which is improving the quality of training and research affairs.

This improvement can only be effectively realized when universities sufficiently upgrade themselves through innovating internal quality assurance systems. To that end, CONFRAISE is in charge of organizing, directing and monitoring the interactions and collaborating the actions among its members as well as with other organizations and institutions.

Assoc.Prof.Dr Nguyen Ngoc Dien - President of CONFRAISE, Vice Rector of University of Economics and Law

Also at the Conference, the framework agreement between CONFRAISE and the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) was signed under the witness of ministers, deputy ministers and officials from the member universities. 

The Conference of Rectors of member universities of the Francophonie University Association (AUF) in Asia-Southeast Asia (CONFRAISE) was officially founded in 1999 with its opening session held once/2 years. This forum gathers various leaders of higher education and research organizations from many countries in the Asia-Pacific to discuss and converse about common issues in regional higher education. CONFRAISE helps identify and promote the potential of experts of its member universities and define the overall strategy for higher education and research. Originally with only 50 members, CONFRAISE's membership has risen to 88 universities and research institutions coming from 11 countries. 

Some images at the Conference

Prof. Dr Pham Quang Minh at the gallery in which member universities of the Conference are introduced

Prof.Dr Pham Quang Minh speaks at the specialized session "University governance and challenges of social responsibility"