Commission Nationale de l'Enseignement Supérieur CNES

Overview

The Commission Nationale de l’Enseignement Supérieur (CNES), known in English as the National Commission for Higher Education, is Burundi’s official regulatory authority for public and private higher education. Established in early 2008, CNES oversees policy coordination, programme accreditation, quality evaluation and strategic planning for universities and institutes across the country. According to uniRank, the CNES is recognised as a key organisation in Burundi’s higher education ecosystem, working in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

History and Legal Framework

In response to growing demand for a structured oversight body, the Government of Burundi enacted Décret n° 100/12 du 10 janvier 2008, formally creating CNES and defining its mandate. Its operational status was activated through Décret n° 100/5 du 5 janvier 2011, which appointed the initial set of commissioners. The enactment of Loi n° 1/22 du 30 décembre 2011 provided a statutory framework for the entire higher education system, with CNES’s authority embedded within it. CNES underwent significant reorganisation under Décret n° 100/258 du 14 novembre 2014, which strengthened its technical capacity and institutional independence. In 2020, Law n° 1/07 du 29 octobre revised the 2011 legislation, clarifying CNES’s mandate in coordination with broader educational reforms. Timeline of key milestones:

• 10 Jan 2008: Decree n°100/12 establishes CNES
• 5 Jan 2011: Decree n°100/5 appoints members
• 30 Dec 2011: Law n° 1/22 reorganises higher education
• 14 Nov 2014: Decree n°100/258 restructures CNES
• 29 Oct 2020: Law n° 1/07 revises higher education law
• 23 Jun 2025: Decree n°100/072 renews commissioners

Mission, Vision and Objectives

Vision: “Promotion of a quality and efficient higher education system and research that responds to socio‑economic challenges.”

Mission: CNES serves as an advisory and regulatory body that ensures alignment of Burundi’s higher education system with national development aims, while fostering quality assurance and institutional effectiveness.

Core objectives include:

• Advising the Minister of Higher Education on planning, policy design and legal reform
• Assisting in the drafting and refinement of regulations governing higher education
• Monitoring compliance with ethical standards, faculty recruitment norms and academic integrity
• Controlling conditions of institutional creation and programme authorisation
• Undertaking institutional and programme evaluation aligned to the national BMD (Bachelor‑Master‑Doctorate) system
• Overseeing equivalence, credit transfer, mobility and modularisation
• Harmonising the national system with East African Community (EAC) protocols and regional frameworks
• Organising workshops, publications and training to strengthen governance and quality culture

Governance, Structure and Independence

Under Décret n° 100/258 du 14 novembre 2014 (articles 6–20), CNES operates through a collegiate council chaired by a Professor as President, assisted by a Vice‑President and a Secretary‑General Permanent (sometimes titled Executive Secretary). The eight- to twenty-one-member commission includes academic, public sector and private sector representatives, nominated by presidential decree. The most recent nominations were issued via Décret n° 100/072 du 23 juin 2025.

Although CNES is legally placed under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, it enjoys operational independence, particularly regarding accreditation decisions and quality evaluation. Its governance model emphasises collegial decision-making, transparency and separation from day-to-day academic administration of institutions.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation

CNES is Burundi’s supreme authority for accreditation and quality assurance in higher education. It collaborates closely with the Ministry in issuing ministerial ordinances such as n° 610‑786 (2017), 610‑1114 (June 2020) and 610‑1135 (June 2020) to establish accreditation criteria for both institutions and programmes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting institutional audits and programme evaluations
• Validating institutional application dossiers for opening and programme authorisation
• Supervising compliance with the implementation of the BMD degree system
• Reviewing and issuing equivalence and credit transfer decisions
• Maintaining continual monitoring mechanisms and follow-up inspections

By mid‑2023, thirty‑three of forty-two private higher education institutions had undergone institutional evaluation by CNES, uncovering anomalies and issuing recommendations accordingly.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009, prompting CNES to align national standards with EAC-accredited benchmarks. CNES is affiliated with:

• The East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN), participating in annual regional audits and joint site evaluations (e.g., for medical faculties)
• The Inter‑University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), which supports harmonisation of curricula and credit transfer within East Africa
• The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), which collaborates through training and quality governance seminars
• The Conseil Africain et Malgache pour l’Enseignement Supérieur (CAMES), of which Burundi is a member state

Participation in the ANEAQ‑AUF workshop in late 2024, co‑hosted by CNES and the Burundian Ministry, focused on managerial governance and QA systems under the AUF 2021‑2025 strategic plan.

Current and Future Impact on Higher Education

CNES’s enforcement of institutional and programme accreditation ensures a baseline standard across public and private sectors, boosting national educational credibility. Its role in implementing the BMD reform and developing the new National Qualifications and Certification Framework (as outlined in Décret n° 100/018 du 23 février 2022) lays the groundwork for eight-tiered certification transparency.

Future impact includes:

• Enhanced student mobility within the EAC via aligned credit transfer and degree recognition
• Increased international visibility for Burundian higher education through joint audits and participation in regional QA forums
• Stronger alignment between higher education outputs and national labour market needs through systematic evaluation
• Gradual digitalisation of QA processes and capacity‑building support to institutions

Summary

The Commission Nationale de l’Enseignement Supérieur (CNES) is the principal body overseeing the quality, regulation and accreditation of higher education in Burundi. Created via 2008 decree and legally embedded through laws in 2011 and 2020, CNES operates with operational independence under the Ministry’s supervision. Its comprehensive mandate covers policy advice, accreditation, institutional audits, equivalence and alignment with East African and francophone quality frameworks. By implementing the national qualifications framework and supporting BMD degree structure, CNES plays a critical role in raising standards, enabling student mobility and improving institutional research and academic practices across the country.

FAQs

1. What is the Commission Nationale de l’Enseignement Supérieur?
   CNES is Burundi’s national commission responsible for higher education policy coordination, accreditation and quality assurance.
2. When was CNES established?
   Created by Decree n° 100/12 on 10 January 2008, with member appointments in January 2011 and later legal reinforcement.
3. Is CNES independent?
   While officially placed under the Ministry of Higher Education, CNES enjoys operational autonomy for accrediting and auditing higher education providers.
4. What powers does CNES have?
   Authority to accredit institutions/programmes, oversee quality audits, approve equivalence and credit transfers and advise on legislative reforms.
5. What legal laws govern CNES?
   Key texts include Decree n° 100/12 (2008), Decree n° 100/5 (2011), Decree n° 100/258 (2014), Law n° 1/22 (2011) and its revision Law n° 1/07 (2020).
6. How does CNES interact with other regional bodies?
   It collaborates with EAQAN, IUCEA, AUF and CAMES to harmonise standards and participate in joint evaluation initiatives.
7. Does CNES regulate both public and private institutions?
   Yes. All higher education institutions in Burundi must obtain CNES approval to operate and confer degrees.
8. How does CNES impact students?
   Through setting national quality standards, enabling credit mobility and overseeing recognition of qualifications across East African countries.

Organization Name

Commission Nationale de l'Enseignement Supérieur
National Commission for Higher Education

Acronym

CNES

Year of Establishment

5/01/2011

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Avenue du Cinquantenaire, n°38 - Quartier Kigobe
Bujumbura
Bujumbura Mairie Burundi

Phone

+257 22 27 65 89

Fax

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

Not available

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Not available

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