Aware of the fundamental social role attributed to the university in the production and animation of ideas and convinced of the need to strengthen the governance capacity of local authorities, territorial development managers; the UPR network, under the patronage of the Ministry of National Education (MENFP), has decided to organize (28 to 30 July) at the Hotel La Cretonne, in Les Cayes of assizes, which are supported by Unesco and several experts from universities in Haiti, Canada, France, the Caribbean and the United States.

These scientific days are intended to provide a space for critical debate on the mission of the University in a framework of analysis of sustainable territorial development according to local resources, needs and expectations of the various actors (citizens, users of public services, companies, tourists and visitors) to offer them a quality of life.

Pierre Josué Agénor Cadet, the Minister of National Education, officially launched the Symposium in the presence of the Rectors of the Public Universities in Regions (UPR), Senator Pierre Francois Sildor, former Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, technical and financial partners, deans, professors and researchers from France, Canada, the USA and the Caribbean.

For the Minister Cadet "the University must play its role in the production and animation of ideas and help to strengthen the governance capacity of public authorities, managers of territorial development. In this sense, we must listen to the various actors, citizens, users of public services and businesses [...]"

He hoped that the outcomes of the conference would provide an inexhaustible source for researchers and a redefinition of more rational and responsible public policies based on a reliable diagnosis of our reality.

Speaking also at the opening ceremony, representatives of the French Embassy, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and Unesco welcomed this initiative by the UPR and the Ministry and expressed their willingness to cooperate in this action for the benefit of local and regional authorities.

Research and territorial development, University and territorial development, higher professionalization and territorial development, ICT and decentralization of higher education, financing of territorial development are among the main themes to be debated during these three scientific days.

HL/ HaitiLibre