The magnitude of his CV calls for admiration and respect. So does his impressive academic and political career. While many people identify Professor Jean Koulidiati as an accomplished intellectual and experienced teacher, very few know that he has also held senior positions in the government of Burkina Faso. He is a former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development; he has also headed the Ministry for the Development of the Digital Economy and Postal Services in the "Land of Honest Men". In 2011, under his leadership, the government of Burkina Faso unveiled the Wind Atlas of Burkina Faso, which was an important step towards achieving the objectives of energy security, while enabling the country to move towards sustainable development in the energy sector.

Known for his firmness, methodology and vast experience in the realm of higher education, this time around, Professor Jean Koulidiati is donning his academic regalia to lead the destiny of the Pan-African University (PAU). He replaces Prof. Kassa Belay who retired in 2021. The latter was another great name who contributed enormously to the institutional development of PAU through a number of highly influential initiatives.

          International partnership

He is taking over the lead of a continental academic and research institution created by the African Union and based on guiding principles such as: freedom, autonomy, academic accountability, quality assurance, the strengthening of

existing African graduate and postgraduate institutions to enable them serve the whole continent, outstanding international partnership in academic and research activities, equality and parity between men and women at all levels and in all academic functions. More than a promotion, this new responsibility fits him perfectly, as he has landed in an institution where the leitmotiv is to contribute to the development and consolidation of higher education as well as a research platform in Africa.

Prof. Koulidiati will have the heavy responsibility of managing the five thematic institutes hosted by the existing universities located in the five geographical regions of the African Union: Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and Agriculture), hosted by the University of Ibadan in Nigeria for West Africa; Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, hosted by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) in Kenya for East Africa; Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, hosted by the University of Yaoundé II (Soa) in Cameroon for Central Africa; Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change), hosted by the University of Tlemcen in Algeria for North Africa; and Space Sciences (soon to be operational), located in South Africa for Southern Africa.

Promoting African Integration

The terms of reference of the newly promoted professor also include: “ Promoting African integration through the mobility of students, teaching and administrative staff, collaborative research with regards to the challenges facing African countries, setting up an appropriate framework that shall enable the African diaspora to contribute to the development of higher education and research in Africa, as well as promoting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research programmes related to decision-making processes, promoting productive assets and the industrial sector for innovation and dissemination of new knowledge, maximum use of information and communication technologies for teaching, research and management”. These are some of the challenges that Professor Jean Koulidiati is well equipped to meet.

For more information:

Ms. Claudette Chancelle BILAMPASSI MOUTSATSI| ESTI Department, African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail:BilampassiC@africa-union.org