Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique, Burundi MESRS

Overview

Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (MESRS), in English known as Burundi’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, is the central government agency overseeing higher education and research policy in Burundi. Established in 2005, it guides degree‑granting institutions, scientific research agendas and quality assurance systems. According to uniRank, MESRS is a pivotal authority in Burundi’s tertiary education landscape, responsible for shaping academic standards, regulating institutions and supporting research aligned with national development needs.

History and Legal Framework

The MESRS was formally created in 2005 when the Burundian government separated tertiary education and scientific research responsibilities from the Ministry of Education. Its mandate was further articulated in Decret n° 100/113 du 18 août 2018, which defined its missions and structure and later expanded through Decret n° 100/090 du 28 octobre 2020 within the Ministry of Education, National Education & Research framework.

The foundational statutory basis for higher education governance is Loi n° 1/22 du 30 décembre 2011, subsequently revised under Loi n° 1/07 du 29 octobre 2020, providing the legal framework for institutional accreditation, degree regulation and the Licence‑Master‑Doctorat (LMD) structure.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

The MESRS’s mission is to promote accessible, relevant and high‑quality higher education and scientific research to contribute to Burundi’s socio‑economic development.

• Vision: A higher education and research ecosystem recognised for academic excellence and innovation, aligned with national development priorities.
• Key Objectives:
  • Expand equitable access to tertiary education across regions and student groups.
  • Standardise programmes under the BMD/LMD framework and promote alignment with East African qualification frameworks.
  • Strengthen research output, infrastructure and funding mechanisms.
  • Professionalise academic and management staff through capacity building.
  • Develop Centres d’Enseignement et de Métiers (CEM) in each commune as vocational education hubs integrated with secondary‑to‑tertiary pathways.

Governance, Structure and Independence

MESRS operates under the Presidency of the Republic, with the Minister of Higher Education appointed by the President. The ministry’s headquarters are located in Bujumbura, at Boulevard de l’Uprona.

Internal organizational units include departments responsible for:

• Policy planning and legislative affairs
• Coordination of higher education institutions
• Scientific research, innovation and technology strategy
• Scholarship and international cooperation programmes

Though the ministry holds systemic oversight and financial authority, it has delegated academic programme accreditation and institutional evaluation to the semi‑autonomous Commission Nationale de l’Enseignement Supérieur (CNES). This arrangement supports regulatory balance while allowing quality evaluation by a professionally staffed, technically independent body.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation

The accreditation of institutions and academic programmes in Burundi is managed by CNES, established by Decret n° 100/12 du 10 janvier 2008 and reorganised by Decret n° 100/258 du 14 novembre 2014. CNES operates under the tutelage of MESRS but with functional autonomy.

• CNES evaluates and accredits tertiary institutions—public and private—and reviews new degree proposals.
• It conducts external audits, mandates institutional self‑evaluation and enforces compliance with quality assurance frameworks.
• It oversees the implementation of the LMD/BMD architecture and ensures consistency with East African educational standards.
• It manages academic credit mobility, equivalence and recognition frameworks to support regional integration.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

MESRS actively partners with regional and international networks to enhance education and research capacity:

• East African Community (EAC) via the Inter‑University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), engaging in harmonised curricula, mobility schemes and quality assurance alignment.
• Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), promoting Francophone collaboration on research projects, faculty training, grant access and academic mobility.
• Erasmus+ and European universities, enabling student and faculty exchanges as well as ICT, health and entrepreneurship collaboration.
• Bilateral scholarship schemes, including the Chinese Ambassador Scholarships, supporting postgraduate training and specialized fellowships abroad.

Current and Future Impact on Higher Education

Aligned with Burundi’s revised National Development Plan (2018–2027), MESRS is driving a series of strategic initiatives:

• Roll‑out of 30 Centres d’Enseignement et de Métiers (CEM), enabling dual education and professional pathways in each commune.
• Implementation of the National Policy on Scientific Research and Technological Innovation (PNRSIT), establishing new governance frameworks, flagships research agendas (e.g. agro‑technology, ICT, energy) and planned creation of a National Science Fund and Research Council.
• Introduction of a National Qualifications and Certification Framework aligned to East African QA standards to improve transparency and mobility.
• Strengthened data‑driven planning and institutional performance tracking, including performance-based financing pilots in select universities.
• Promotion of STEM‑oriented entrepreneurship hubs and innovation incubators linked to industry and private sector stakeholders.

These reforms are expected to extend access, elevate institutional quality, foster innovation ecosystems and reinforce alignment with labour market needs.

Summary

The Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique is Burundi’s lead agency for governance of higher education and scientific research. Originating in 2005 and grounded in key legal instruments, the ministry formulates education and research policy, oversees institutional supervision and delegates accreditation responsibilities to CNES. By engaging in international networks and implementing national reforms—such as the CEM network, PNRSIT and national qualifications framework—MESRS is positioning Burundi’s higher education system for greater access, quality, relevance and alignment with national development goals.

FAQs

1. What is MESRS?
   The MESRS is Burundi’s government ministry in charge of higher education and scientific research policy, institution regulation and fostering academic excellence.
2. When was MESRS established?
   The ministry was created in 2005, with key legal reinforcement in decrees issued in 2018 and 2020 and foundational law dating from 2011 (revised in 2020).
3. What legal framework governs higher education in Burundi?
   Loi n° 1/22 du 30 décembre 2011 (updated by Loi n° 1/07 du 29 octobre 2020) and decrees such as nos. 100/113 (2018) and 100/090 (2020) provide operational and regulatory structure.
4. How is MESRS governed?
   The ministry is led by a presidentially appointed minister, supported by directorates responsible for planning, academic affairs, research and international cooperation. Accreditation is delegated to CNES.
5. What does CNES do?
   The Commission Nationale de l’Enseignement Supérieur accredits and evaluates universities and academic programmes, enforces quality assurance and advises MESRS on higher education policy implementation.
6. Does MESRS participate in international education networks?
   Yes. Through IUCEA, AUF, Erasmus+ and scholarships, MESRS engages in regional harmonisation, academic mobility, research collaboration and capacity‑building.
7. What are the major reforms currently underway?
   Key reforms include rolling out CEM vocational centres, enacting PNRSIT to strengthen research policy, implementing a National Qualifications Framework and enhancing STEM & entrepreneurship education aligned with national priorities.
8. How does MESRS affect students and academic staff?
   It impacts students by regulating access, quality and mobility; staff benefit from professionalisation initiatives, international training opportunities and involvement in reforming the system.

Organization Name

Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique, Burundi
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Acronym

MESRS

Year of Establishment

1/01/2005

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

Boulevard de l'UPRONA, Numéro 27; B.P. 1990
Bujumbura
Bujumbura Mairie Burundi

Phone

+257 22 22 94 50

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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