Ouagadougou: The President of Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly University (UDOC), Professor Aboudramane Guiro, has expressed a strategic vision to position the institution as a key driver for development in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. Through a focus on research, innovation, digital technology, and entrepreneurship, the university aims to address and meet the local challenges of territorial development.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Professor Guiro envisions UDOC as a regional academic powerhouse, deeply rooted in local needs but with national and international connectivity. He emphasizes that university decentralization should not merely involve relocating existing programs but should also build institutions that produce locally relevant knowledge and innovations. The university's mission is encapsulated in three core actions: to train, produce, and transform. This involves developing competent talents, generating useful scientific knowledge, and transforming local territories through innovation.
Professor Guiro highlights the strategic importance of certain fields for UDOC and the region, including agriculture and agritech, environment and natural resource management, digital technology and artificial intelligence, energy, engineering, data science, and entrepreneurial innovation. He underscores the necessity of a systems approach to education and research, where interactions between agriculture, climate, water, economy, technology, and the environment are thoroughly understood and integrated.
To align training with job market demands and national priorities, UDOC is adapting its programs to reflect economic and technological transformations. The university is focusing on interdisciplinary training and emphasizing skills such as digital competence, project-based learning, and real-world problem solving. It seeks to equip students not only with employability but also with the ability to create value and entrepreneurial ventures.
In addressing regional challenges like food security and sustainable resource management, UDOC is committed to research that is closely aligned with local issues. Mathematical modeling, for instance, is used to optimize water use in agriculture by considering various environmental factors. The aim is to transform research into practical solutions through collaboration with researchers, producers, and communities.
Professor Guiro also outlines mechanisms to foster applied research, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer at UDOC. By strengthening the innovation ecosystem, the university seeks to transform knowledge into innovations with economic and social value, thus positioning itself as an economic player within the region.
Digital transformation is another critical focus for UDOC, which involves more than just technological upgrades. It requires a fundamental shift in teaching and learning practices, integrating digital resources, hybrid teaching, and AI-assisted learning environments. Professor Guiro stresses the importance of developing students' digital and scientific literacy based on critical thinking and ethical principles.
Partnerships are crucial for UDOC's impact, with collaborations extending to local authorities, businesses, NGOs, and international institutions. These partnerships aim to produce tangible outcomes, such as joint research projects, student exchanges, and technology transfer.
To support students' professional integration, UDOC focuses on developing transferable skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and maintaining strong relationships with industry. The university's programs are designed to produce graduates who are not just job seekers but also job creators.
Professor Guiro acknowledges several challenges facing UDOC, including maintaining quality education, improving infrastructure, attracting qualified staff, securing funding, and enhancing scientific visibility. He commends national efforts to enhance educational infrastructure, which will benefit the university significantly.
Finally, Professor Guiro envisions UDOC as a "university-laboratory" for the territory, where local issues become research challenges, and solutions are co-created with the community. The university seeks to offer young high school graduates an environment conducive to building their future, emphasizing rigorous training, real-world problem-solving, and innovation.