As delays in university programs weigh on youth employability and workforce competitiveness, the appointment of a new president at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University marks a turning point in the governance of one of Burkina Faso’s leading public institutions.

Professor Antoine Béré took office on Wednesday, Jan. 28, as president of Joseph Ki-Zerbo University (UJKZ), the largest public university in Burkina Faso. The ceremony marked the handover from Professor Jean-François Silas Kobiané and was held in the presence of university and government officials. Béré now assumes leadership of a key institution at an important stage in its development.

Appointed by the Council of Ministers on Jan. 22, 2026, he has made the restoration of a stable academic calendar a central priority of his term. The aim is to ensure regular schedules and improve program quality. This responds to longstanding calls for greater curriculum stability, seen as essential for graduate employability and the country’s competitiveness.

A physicist specializing in materials science, the environment and sustainable development, Béré has an extensive academic record, with several international publications in areas including energy, materials and environmental studies. Previously, he led the university’s Laboratory of Physics and Chemistry of the Environment. He has also served as chair of the board of the Polytechnic School of Ouagadougou and as Director General of Research and Innovation at the ministry overseeing the sector.

His focus on academic stability is especially significant as the university has made progress in recent years. The share of programs operating on a normalized schedule rose from 39% in 2023 to about 80% in 2025, reflecting a gradual return to more consistent academic planning. The stated objective is full normalization, a necessary step to guarantee stable study pathways and support graduates’ entry into an increasingly demanding labor market.

Béré’s appointment follows the university’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2025, which led the institution to reassess its strategies in response to a changing socioeconomic environment. Drawing on his scientific expertise and leadership experience, he intends to accelerate reforms and strengthen the university’s role in developing skills critical to national development. The coming months will show the impact of this new direction.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou