Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)

The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) is an international association comprising universities, grandes écoles, academic networks and scientific research centers that use the French language all over the world. With a network of 812 members in 104 countries, it is one of the world’s largest higher education and research associations.

The AUF is also the specialist higher education and research agency for the Francophonie. As such, within our scope of competence, we implement resolutions adopted at conferences of heads of state and government of countries where French is spoken (Sommets de la Francophonie).

Our mission: to support scientific excellence with a view to fostering societal development 

Keenly aware of what is at stake where academic knowledge is concerned and its impact on societal development, the AUF has been working with French-speaking academic partners worldwide for over fifty years. We support quality teaching accessible to all, across the globe. Not only is this of key significance in terms of the global reach of French-speaking academia; it is also vital for societal development. We have three main strands of activity: 

• Coordinating French-speaking academic cooperation worldwide / The AUF fosters academic cooperation between member institutions in a spirit of solidarity, complementarity, and knowledge sharing. We thus help to maintain a lively French-speaking scientific environment, while respecting cultural and linguistic diversity.
• Supporting academic institutions, staff and students / The AUF offers services to students, lecturers and researchers including mobility funding, access to on-line degree courses, and support for research projects. We support institutions undergoing modernization (upgrading management systems; self-assessment and assessment programs; preparing university mission statements). Special assistance is provided to institutions in crisis-hit countries (Haiti, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali). 
• Engagement on the international scene / The AUF takes part in international projects alongside major organizations; we make our expertise available to development agencies and Francophonie member states. By producing reports or making official statements, we take a stance on international higher education development issues such as broadening access to academic studies, assessment and ranking of universities, access of women to higher education, and the use of digital technology in educational settings.

Where we operate: all over the world, in close proximity to our members 

The AUF has a network of 62 offices, branches and digital campuses in 40 different countries.

Our headquarters is in Montreal (Canada), and our central administration is shared between Montreal and Paris (France). 

Ten regional offices coordinate our field operations in Central Africa and the Great Lakes, West Africa, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific region, the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.

Our regional operational network also includes eight administrative branches, thirty-seven French-speaking digital campuses, and five Instituts de la Francophonie devoted to training, research, consultancy and expertise.