Academic, entrepreneurial excellence: French institute, INSEI France, shares experience with Yaounde I varsity

Held under the theme “University – Business: The Experience of INSEI, France”, the conference sought to build stronger ties between universities and businesses.

French institute, INSEI France has shared its rich experience with the University of Yaounde in the promotion of academic and entrepreneurial excellence. This was during a one-day conference organized at the Faculty of Education of the University of Yaounde I. The gathering sought to build stronger ties between universities and businesses. It offered a valuable platform for students to connect with leaders in the business world.

Headed by Professor Zineb Rachedi, the keynote speaker and organizer, the event also included insightful contributions from the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the University of Yaounde I, Prof Cyrille Bela. Prof Daouda Maingari expertly moderated the discussions, making it a stimulating experience for everyone. Per the various speakers, bridging the gap between learning and real-world application is a growing priority. They stated that there is a renewed focus on preparing learners for different careers and helping them contribute to the growth of the society.

 “Our Master’s students only have three days of classes a week. Why? To give them time to work in a company and practice what they have learned,” Prof Zineb Rachedi stated about the INSEI model. She added that the model highlights the institute’s interest to giving students real-world experience. Prof Cyrille Bela, emphasized the importance of the conference, especially for Master’s students.

He said the knowledge gathered from the gathering is crucial for learners especially Masters students who he said will be better placed in the professional world thanks to a mastery of the business world. “We don’t teach experience; we talk about experience. That is why it is so important for Master’s students to be here,” he said. He further highlighted the need for practical experience and industry exposure, rather than what he described as just following a strict schedule.

Putting understanding first, Prof Rachedi disagrees with focusing too much on class hours. She emphasized that the priority is helping students understand, not just making lecturers teach for a certain number of hours. “We train for students to understand, there are hours allocated for lecturers to teach a particular course that is not the priority,”.  The conference which was punctuated by the active participation of students, highlights the importance of students gaining real-world skills and knowledge through partnerships between universities and businesses.

Such partnerships, experts say, prepare learners for the workforce and help them make a positive impact on society. It’s about learning and understanding, not just attending classes, and it’s about making sure students are ready for the challenges of the real world.