On Friday, November 7, 2025, the PROGRESS Project marked a significant milestone with the validation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a high-level stakeholder engagement workshop held at the Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura.

Implemented within the framework of the PROGRESS Project (Promoting Reforms for the Growth and Modernization of the Higher Education System in Burundi), this event reaffirmed the collective commitment of academic institutions, public authorities, and sectoral partners to modernize and internationalize Burundi’s higher education system.

Co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program, the project is coordinated by the University of Università di Parma (Italy) in partnership with the University of Helsinki (Finland), alongside three Burundian universities: Hope Africa University (HAU), Université de Ngozi (UNG), and Université des Grands Lacs (UGL) (UGL).

The workshop brought together representatives from the partner universities and twelve national institutions operating in key sectors such as quality assurance, food technology, pharmaceuticals, health, and civil society. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional collaboration, aligning project actions with national development priorities, and supporting Burundi’s Vision 2040 and Vision 2060.

The signing of the MoU formalized a framework for cooperation aimed at curriculum modernization, digital transformation, employability enhancement, and improved university governance. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to innovation, capacity building, and sustainable impact throughout the project’s three-year duration and beyond.