UVCI News

The Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire (UVCI) and Pigier Côte d’Ivoire have taken their collaboration to the next level. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the two institutions signed a partnership agreement aimed at strengthening their cooperation in the areas of education, educational innovation, research, and skills development.

The signing ceremony took place in the UVCI conference room, attended by several representatives from both institutions. The agreement was signed by Professor Koné Tiémoman, president of UVCI, and Jérémie N’Gouan, CEO of Pigier Côte d’Ivoire.

Through this agreement, the two partners aim, in particular, to combine their expertise to develop open and distance learning offerings, design joint degree, certificate, or certification programs, strengthen the capacities of their teams, and promote joint initiatives in the fields of research, innovation, and instructional design.

Complementary Expertise

For the president of UVCI, this agreement opens up new avenues for the university’s development.

“I must say that I am a happy president. Every time we sign a partnership agreement, I feel the same way, because these partnerships broaden the horizons of our development opportunities,” said Professor Koné Tiémoman.

He praised the expertise and experience of Pigier Côte d’Ivoire, a recognized leader in the private higher education sector in Côte d’Ivoire. Having been part of the educational landscape for several years, the institution represents, in his view, a partner with whom UVCI can build valuable synergies.

Beyond training, the president of the UVCI also sees this collaboration as an opportunity to strengthen the exchange of experiences in management, organization, and a culture of performance.

“The private sector often emphasizes a quality-driven approach, clearly defined goals to be achieved, and a specific way of working. I believe the public sector would also benefit from drawing inspiration from this results-oriented culture,” he emphasized.

Expected Benefits for Learners

The partnership should also directly benefit UVCI students, whose community is spread across the entire country.

Professor Koné Tiémoman specifically mentioned the possibility of making certain facilities at Pigier Côte d’Ivoire available to UVCI students for educational, academic, or group activities.

This could particularly apply to Yamoussoukro, which is home to a large community of students from the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire.

“They could potentially benefit, from time to time, from rooms where they can meet and carry out various activities,” he explained.

This sharing of resources illustrates the two institutions’ commitment to turning their partnership into a concrete initiative that benefits their respective academic communities.

Pigier Côte d’Ivoire Relys on the UVCI’s Expertise

For Pigier Côte d’Ivoire, the agreement also represents an opportunity for learning and capacity building.

According to its CEO, Jérémie N’Gouan, over its ten years of existence, the UVCI has acquired significant expertise in several areas, particularly in distance learning and educational innovation.

“It was only natural for us to draw inspiration from this experience and seek training through our collaboration with UVCI. While this is a partnership, we approach it with great humility, recognizing that we have much to learn,” he said.

The head of Pigier Côte d’Ivoire said he was particularly impressed by the capabilities the university has developed in the field of digital education.

As part of this collaboration, Pigier Côte d’Ivoire has already identified several areas of need. These include distance learning, video editing, and the use and operation of studios.

“We will therefore sit down with the UVCI teams to learn alongside them and strengthen our skills in these various areas,” concluded Jérémie N’Gouan.

A dynamic partnership built to last

Through this agreement, UVCI and Pigier Côte d’Ivoire are demonstrating their commitment to building a partnership based on the complementary nature of their expertise.

By combining Pigier Côte d’Ivoire’s experience in private higher education with UVCI’s expertise in digital and distance learning, the two institutions aim to create new opportunities in training, innovation, and skills development.

This cooperation is expected to gradually result in concrete initiatives that benefit learners, staff, and, more broadly, the development of higher education in Côte d’Ivoire.