The 11th Conference of the Association of Francophone Universities(AUF) in the Asia-Pacific opened in Hanoi on April 23, gatheringrepresentatives of 84 member universities from 10 regional countries.

Initiated in 2000, the biennial event is anopportunity for AUF members to meet and share information on projects inthe Asia-Pacific as well as determine future orientations forFrench-language education in the region.

Participants discussed policies and operation directions for theassociation in the region in the next four years alongside collaborationstrategies.

Three new AUF members were introducedat the event: Mongolia, China and Vietnam. The delegates alsoelected an executive board for the next four-year tenure.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Education and Training BuiVan Ga noted that association membership is rising, demonstrating AUFgrowth and increasing university interest in the association.

This also expands cooperation prospects in higher education among universities in the Asian-Pacific region and the world.

Currently, Vietnam is focusing on comprehensive education reformand improving the quality of higher education to meet the requirementsof the country’s industrialisation and modernisation, he said.

Ga stated that Vietnam encourages its universities to set uppartnerships with other universities in the region and around the worldto help better local higher education.

According toBernard Cerquiglini, AUF General Director, the AUF is one of the world’slargest organisations grouping 804 education and research institutesusing the French language around the world.

He called on the association’s members to increase specific cooperation activities for the common development of AUF.

He pledged that the association will design support policies for projects enhancing tertiary education quality.

He also requested more member contributions in terms of resources and scientific policies.-VNA