The Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) has reached a new milestone in academic recognition at the African level. According to the 2025 edition of the Top University Rank (TUR), produced by Research Analytics International, the Yamoussoukro-based institution now sits at 27th place on the continent, up from 36th last year. It also maintains its position as the second-ranked francophone university in Africa.

Beyond INP-HB’s performance, Côte d’Ivoire has made further strides in continental recognition. Two Ivorian institutions entered the rankings for the first time: École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d'Économie Appliquée (ENSEA), ranked 114th in Africa, and École Supérieure Africaine des TIC (ESATIC), ranked 146^th.

These additions confirm Côte d’Ivoire’s emerging role as a hub of academic excellence in West Africa.

The rise of francophone universities in Africa

While anglophone universities still dominate, francophone institutions are slowly carving out a larger space. The Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (Morocco) now leads francophone Africa at 23rd place continentally, ahead of INP-HB. This reshuffling illustrates the growing competitiveness of francophone universities, even if their presence in the top tier remains modest.

The Top University Rank evaluates 150 African institutions across three core areas: quality of teaching, research output, and societal impact. Unlike other rankings, TUR emphasizes dimensions often overlooked, such as how universities contribute to their local environments and nurture student engagement.

Here, INP-HB particularly excels, earning an impressive 93.8 score in “student engagement”. This reflects the institution’s ability to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment, where students are not just passive recipients of knowledge but active participants in their own education and communities.