• Guinea launches Univ Connect to link 17 public universities

• Secure broadband to serve over 80,000 students and academics

• Project supports digital reform of higher education sector

Guinean authorities launched the Univ Connect project last week to link 17 public universities and institutes through a secure broadband network. The initiative is part of a broader push to digitally modernise higher education in Guinea.

According to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, the network will give more than 80,000 students, teachers and researchers improved access to digital resources and international academic content. The government plans to expand national capacity beyond 2 gigabits. Thirteen institutions are already connected to the national fibre-optic network, nine of which are fully operational.

The government is pursuing reforms in higher education, with digital technology positioned as a central pillar. The objective is to use digital tools to improve quality, equity and competitiveness across the sector. This effort falls under the Simandou Academy initiative, described as a talent development hub intended to support the country’s digital transition.

Authorities aim to equip teachers and students with modern digital tools to promote interactive and collaborative teaching methods in line with international standards. As part of this effort, the government has equipped institutions with smart classrooms in partnership with Chinese technology group Huawei. A new batch of equipment was delivered to the Ministry of Higher Education in early December.

In February, the government launched a unified documentation platform known as Pludoc, designed to facilitate access to information and academic resources for students, teachers and researchers. Other recent initiatives include training programmes for stakeholders, the distribution of computers to students, the rollout of a digital guidance platform for new high school graduates, and the provision of digital equipment to higher education institutions.

“The future depends on a generation that is equipped, skilled and connected to global dynamics. Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant reality: it is already shaping our daily practices and economic models. Our role, as a State, is to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, invention and the production of knowledge that is useful to the country,” said Alpha Bacar Barry, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, at a recent event.

Isaac K. Kassouwi