• Mauritania launched Tesjil, a fully digital registration platform for the University of Nouakchott, its largest higher education institution.

• The initiative is part of the National Higher Education Strategy 2030, which allocates 86 million ouguiyas ($2.14 million) to digitalization.

• Internet penetration in Mauritania remains low at 37.4% in 2023, raising concerns about students’ ability to access the new system.

Mauritania’s government launched on September 25 Tesjil, a platform that fully digitizes the registration process at the University of Nouakchott. Authorities said the initiative responds to rising student numbers and aims to improve access to higher education.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration said in a statement the new service allows students to register online, pay fees via e-wallets, and automatically obtain their student ID, registration certificate and receipt in digital form. “This major step modernizes the enrollment process and simplifies students’ lives,” the ministry said.

The project forms part of the National Higher Education Strategy 2030, adopted in 2022, which identifies digitalization as a core implementation pillar alongside curriculum development. The government earmarked 86 million ouguiyas ($2.14 million) for the plan.

Authorities said the strategy aims to expand training opportunities, strengthen digital skills, foster innovative teaching methods, and boost broadband connectivity and equipment in universities. It also targets distance learning and the rollout of digital tools for academic, administrative and financial management.

Despite the progress, digital integration in Mauritania’s education sector remains limited. Currently, digital registration applies only to the University of Nouakchott, while the country counts 11 public higher education institutions.

Access challenges persist. Students face constraints such as limited internet access, low digital literacy and uneven device availability. According to the International Telecommunication Union, Mauritania’s internet penetration rate stood at 37.4% in 2023.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum