Agadir Welcomes the 6th Global Francophonie Scientific Week
The vibrant city of Agadir is set to host the 6th edition of the Global Francophonie Scientific Week (SMFS) from October 12 to 15, 2023. This year's event is poised to be a significant milestone in the history of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), marking the implementation of the new 2026-2029 strategy and the commencement of a new chapter for scientific Francophonie. Professor Slim Khalbous, the rector of AUF, emphasizes that the SMFS has evolved into a vital platform for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration among universities, governments, researchers, students, international organizations, and all partners committed to the advancement of knowledge. Each year, this event fosters the emergence of innovative ideas, strengthens networks, and builds collective responses to the pressing challenges of our time. The Agadir edition will continue this ambition with particular intensity.
During the previous edition held in Dakar, AUF initiated its new strategy, known as the "1+3 strategy," where the "1" represents the transitional year of 2026 dedicated to profound organizational transformation. This evolution is a response to the structural upheavals in public funding for Francophonie highlighted by the 2025 crisis. The strategy aims to equip AUF with a more resilient, agile economic model that is better suited to tomorrow's challenges. This essential strategic reflection for the future of our network will naturally be a focal point of this SMFS, as noted by Professor Khalbous.
The theme for this sixth edition is "Scientific Diplomacy in the Face of Geopolitical Challenges," providing a unique framework for analyzing the significant transformations reshaping international balances and the increasing role of universities in knowledge production, fostering dialogue among peoples, and seeking solutions to global challenges. The days will revolve around a Ministerial Conference, Scientific Assemblies, and a Youth Congress, representing a space for cooperation, encounters, and the creation of partnerships. The exchanges will be enriched by workshops focused on scientific Francophonie in Morocco and university cooperation in North Africa, among other topics.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
