UNIKIN ALUMNI, University of Kinshasa

ALMA

Association of Former Students of Lovanium University, the National University of Zaire Kinshasa Campus, the University of Kinshasa and Friends of Mount Amba, abbreviated to ALMA, non-profit organization.

 ALUMNI DAY REPORT  FROM DECEMBER 9, 2018

 This year's Alumni Day took place on December 9, 2018.

As part of this Day established by the ALMA Committee since November 25, 2007 and which normally takes place on the last Sunday of November, coinciding with the feast of Christ the King of the Universe, all Alumni of our University are invited to meet on the university site of Mont-Amba for the holding of the Ordinary General Assembly of our Association.

This year, this day was postponed by two weeks for well-known economic reasons, linked to the turbulence experienced by the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN).

The Eucharistic celebration

As tradition dictates, Elders' Day always begins with the Eucharistic celebration at the Church of Our Lady of Wisdom (NODASA), which began at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 11:30 a.m.

There blessing of the Monument of Mgr Luc GILLON

After the mass, Father Antoine MATEKADI, Parish Priest, proceeded, in the presence of Bishop PLEVOETS and the members of ALMA present, to the blessing of the Monument of Bishop Luc GILLON, inaugurated on June 18, 2018.

The priest emphasized that this monument, which must reflect the values embodied by Bishop Luc Gillon, is a symbol of salt and light in the life of the University. In his prayer, he asked that all those who pass through this University be salt and light in society throughout their lives.

At the end of this ceremony, a souvenir photo was taken with all the members of ALMA in front of the Monument.

THE ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING.

It was after the blessing ceremony of the Monument that the Ordinary General Assembly of ALMA was held, in the Mgr Luc Gillon Promotions Hall of the University of Kinshasa.

The agenda for this meeting included the following four points:

1. The exhortation of Mgr Plevoets, Honorary Prelate of His Holiness the Pope.
2. Presentation of the ALMA 2018 report, by Dr. Gilbert KABANDA, Director General of the ALMA Executive Committee,
3. Miscellaneous
4. Cocktail.

1. THE EXHORTATION OF MGR PLEVOETS

The Prelate's word of exhortation focused on two points.

1.1. The Prelate emphasized that, given its objectives, one of ALMA's concerns should be the smooth running of the University of Kinshasa. He unfortunately notes that things are not going as they should at this University. He particularly criticized the teachers' strike, which lasted a long time, thus jeopardizing the students' future.

While acknowledging the merits of the strike called by the suffering teachers, he said there were other ways to react and put pressure on the government instead of staying home for a long time to support the strike at the expense of the students.

He emphasized that the University is not only composed of professors, but also of scientists, administrators, students, the library, buildings, equipment, etc., in short, a whole complex that must be considered. He concluded that all stakeholders should take care of and commit to the University.

1.2. The Prelate pointed out some liturgical flaws observed during the Eucharistic celebration earlier. The choir monopolized the songs and sang alone instead of having the Christian assembly sing during the Mass. However, since the time of Cardinals MALULA, ETSOU of happy memory, and now MONSENGO, the emphasis has always been placed on the principle of having the assembly sing and actively participate in the Mass.

He also stressed the active participation of lay Catholics who have a major role to play in the Parish for its functioning.

2. PRESENTATION OF THE ALMA 2018 REPORT

Dr. KABANDA's intervention focused on the four points of the assessment:

– the ALMA website, – the Monument bust of Mgr L Gillon, – the 1^er ALMA Congress and follow-up to this Congress. A debate on this assessment followed.

2.1 The ALMA Website

When it was established on December 17, 2017, the current Committee set itself the goal of making ALMA visible online. Today, this has been accomplished. ALMA has a website that can be consulted at any time. www.alma-unikin.org . For any contact or useful information, please contact Mr. KUSIA Blaise, (+243 81 29 34 536) member of the Executive Committee, in charge of External Relations.

2.2 The Construction of the Bust Monument of Mgr Luc Gillon.

This action was carried out because the Monument was inaugurated on June 18, 2018, and was just blessed a few moments ago by the Parish Priest of NODASA. The funding for this bust was 100 % ALMA, which mobilized the Elders and some political authorities for this purpose.

For the moment, ALMA is concerned with the complete completion of the work, the total cost of which is estimated at USD 10,000.00. This is why Dr. KABANDA addressed the Assembly to request its contribution and raise awareness among others about this.

To this end, Mr. DEROUAUX, member of the ALMA Board of Directors and initiator of this project, having excused himself for health reasons, Mr. NTA, Secretary General of the Board of Directors completed Dr. KABANDA to provide clarification to the Assembly on the aforementioned estimate of 10,000.00 USD for the garden to be developed around the bust: the estimate for the garden was drawn up and presented by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of our University. He added that the current tiles will be replaced by marble tiles ordered from China and whose Container has already arrived in Matadi. In addition, the monument will be lit by four street lamps which will be regularly powered by solar panels which will soon be placed there.

2.3. Holding of the First ALMA Congress.

Speaking about these meetings, the Director General of ALMA said that it was a general challenge because it was necessary to organize the Congress within a short time of six months after its announcement. ALMA mobilized on the merits and on the results of this project because the Association cannot exist simply to meet and have a drink. But it must do more, he continued, especially since more than 50 % Alumni, although scattered in various sectors of life in the country and abroad, are able to organize themselves into ALUMNI to make a substantial contribution to the University like the ALUMNI of the Universities of Harvard, Oxford, Pretoria etc.

He went on to remind the Assembly that elsewhere, it is said that "without the Alumni, the University would not exist." Why is this observation made elsewhere and not here? said Dr. KABANDA. "It is this," he continued, that prompted me to "shake the coconut tree." Thank God, our cries were heard because the Congress was held at 90% of the planned contributions.

The Director General said that the general report of the Congress had been written and that he was working on printing it in A4 format with 96 pages containing photos vividly illustrating the main moments of the Congress.

The speaker expressed the wish that everyone should obtain this document, which mainly contains the 66 recommendations addressed to the Government, the University, Alumni and Students.

Dr. KABANDA believes that this abundant harvest could serve as a matrix or granary for future reflections, he concluded.

2.4 Follow-up to the Congress

Dr. KABANDA stressed that ALMA is currently in the follow-up phase of the Congress, which includes three components:

1° Implementation component of the recommendations which will require the contribution of the Elders as soon as the printing of the report is completed and the copies distributed.

2° This implementation will be done concurrently with the events of the golden jubilee of Mgr Tharcisse TSHIBANGU as the first African Rector of a University in Sub-Saharan Africa appointed in July 1967. This jubilee, which began at the ALMA Congress, will end in February 2019 during the anniversary of the University of Kinshasa.

3°. Preparation of the next Congress

The Director General of the Executive Committee is already thinking about the 2nd ALMA Congress in June 2019 because he wants the organization of the Congress to be annual, at least during the first five years. This annual frequency will allow to keep high and continuous the torch of support for UNIKIN so as to install it in the long term after the 5th annual Congress.

On the other hand, he added, the distances of more than a year between the Congresses will have as a major effect the prolonged cooling of the impulses in the construction of a real ALUMNI family of UNIKIN.

He concluded by demonstrating that raising funds for the Congress, which is the main problem, should not be a cause for concern, as a minimum strategy is generally sufficient. Proof of this is the strategy implemented to obtain USD 76,000 in funding for the 1^er Congress.

4° The amendment of the ALMA Statutes.

Since its creation in 1991, the Association has never revised its Statutes to

adapt them to the sociological and digital developments of its members. They are therefore outdated and urgently need revision in certain provisions. This is one of the major recommendations of the 1^er Congress. The Director General announced the establishment of an ad hoc committee.

5° The place of ALMA in the management of the University of Kinshasa.

This point was also the subject of a recommendation from the Congress participants. They expressed the hope that, like other major universities in the world, UNIKIN should welcome ALMA into one of its management structures to enable it to be a recognized player in the life of the University and thus make its contribution in a more intensive, coordinated, and sustainable manner.

2.5 The debate

In this part, participants had the opportunity to ask some clarifying questions and make proposals and suggestions on what was said.

2. Regarding the mandate ALMA is seeking, Professor MALEKANI even proposed a one-off mandate in the absence of a permanent one. Dr. KABANDA made it clear to him that a one-off mandate has very little chance of mobilizing a substantial and long-term contribution where it must be consistent and sustainable. This opinion was adopted.
3. Regarding the revision of the Statutes, Professor MWENE BATENDE requests that ALMA send a copy of the Statutes to the email inboxes of members, especially those of the Catholic Teachers' Movement (MPC). Regarding ALMA's mandate in UNIKIN, he refers to the Framework Law. He proposes that the Congress be held every two years instead of annually, as this is too tight and there is a risk of running out of material for debate.

Dr. KABANDA demonstrated the value of holding an annual congress for the first five years: it is to keep the debates on ALMA's ongoing support for UNIKIN lively and intense for a period of five years and thus consolidate in people's minds the need for this support. The annual frequency of Congresses during the first five years was adopted by the Ordinary General Assembly.

3. CT LOFEMBE BENKENYA Blaise, currently Scientific Advisor to the office of the Minister of Higher and University Education and sent by the Minister to the Ordinary General Assembly of ALMA, provided some specific information.

For all academic problems, he advised ALMA to contact Professor LUBANZA, Academic Advisor to the Minister.

Regarding the relationship between the University and ALMA, the Framework Law in its chapters II and III addresses the Educational Partnership.

Dr. KABANDA took note and promised to deepen contacts.

The same MINESU Advisor informed the Ordinary General Assembly that the Ministry considers ALMA as a force for the reform of the ESU. The Assembly took note of this positive assessment of ALMA's action.

4. Professor LUTULA suggests that ALMA have a focal point in each Faculty to ensure better coordination and flow of information. For the revision of the Statutes, he recommends that ALMA contact the Catholic Professors' Movement (MPC).

The Executive Committee took good note of these suggestions.

5. Professor Jean LUBUMA, from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, shared his experience at the University and asked for the actual number of ALMA members. He spoke of the need for ALMA visibility within the University, where ALMA should be an important component in its operations. To this end, he gave the example of the University of Pretoria, where the ALUMNI office is an integral part of the University's management bodies.

The Director General of the ALMA Executive Committee found this experience interesting and promised to further develop it with ALMA.

6. CT TANTA Mr. Claude congratulated and encouraged ALMA for its work. He informed the Assembly that at the Faculty of Sciences, in the Math-Info Department, they have formed the ALUMNI called AMI (ALUMNI MATH-INFO)-UNIKIN and have a club of graduates who seek to reclaim the moral values of the University. They are also willing to develop the graduate directory. In response, Dr. KABANDA thanked him and promised his collaboration on behalf of ALMA.

7. Professor Michel KIKA, former Dean of the Faculty of Economics and former Rector of UNIKIN, shared his experience of university management. He believes the strike lasted because the spirit and letter of the Framework Law were not respected, particularly with regard to the Rector, who must be elected by his peers. As a member of the Economic and Social Council, he can examine the country's problems.

He suggests that ALMA make an effort with politicians and take the bull by its horns. As soon as an ALMA member is nominated, in government, parliament, at the head of companies, etc., ALMA must not only congratulate them but also present them with the university's specifications.

ALMA has taken note of all these suggestions for strategies to be used and will work to put them into practice in the coming days.

3 MISCELLANEOUS

 3.1 Monsignor PLEVOETS suggested the creation of the ''ALMA Review''. While agreeing in principle with the project, the ALMA Executive Committee expressed its fear that many copies, once produced, would remain unsold because members would not bother to buy them even at the price of 5 USD, since executives read very little in the DRC.

3.2 Mr. Leonard MUEPU, Vice-President of the ALMA Board of Directors, informed the Assembly that the Board is in the process of renewing its team. Mr. NTA, Secretary General of the Board, is responsible for registering applications from interested individuals.

It was on a note of hope and encouragement that the ALMA Ordinary General Assembly, which opened at 12 noon, was adjourned at 2 p.m.

4. COCKTAIL

Refreshments were offered to participants as they left the room.

Done in Kinshasa, December 9, 2018

The Rapporteur,

          NTA MBOKOY

         The Secretary General of the ALMA Board of Directors.

I. CONGRESS

1^ER ALMA CONGRESS

THEME: ALMA'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE REBIRTH OF UNIKIN

SUB-THEMES:

• Teaching and scientific research at the University of Kinshasa
• The university in the nation
• UNIKIN and its influence throughout the world
• University Funding

ALMA and the Renaissance of UNIKIN

FOREWORD

The first congress of the Association of Former Students of the University of Lovanium-UNAZA/Kinshasa Campus-UNIKIN and Friends of Mount Amba, ALMA for short, took place from June 19 to 22, 2018 in the concert hall of the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa.

The chosen theme—ALMA's Contribution to the Revival of the University of Kinshasa—gradually attracted the relevant audience, namely ALMA members as defined by the Association's statutes. Their participation during the four days of the Congress reached a cumulative total of 452.

Pending the publication of the Acts of the Congress and taking into account the urgent need to begin, as soon as it closes, the implementation of the recommendations made to the Congolese State, all former students of UNIKIN, the University authorities, its academic, scientific and administrative staff and even the students of UNIKIN, we believed it useful to publish the general report quickly.

The general report is structured according to the Congress program. Most of the presentations were accompanied by recommendations and/or resolutions. These were then grouped by sub-themes at the end of the general report. The sub-themes were discussed in workshops.

ALMA welcomes the concrete and clear interest shown in this forum by all stakeholders involved in the life of UNIKIN, from the Head of State to students, including the Government of the Republic and academic authorities. This report, with its highlighted recommendations, aims to offer this august community of interests a first marker of the path to be taken for the major project of the "Renaissance of UNIKIN."

An ALMA committee to follow up on the recommendations is currently working and will report on the 2nd.^e Congress scheduled for June 2019.

It is worth recalling that the First ALMA Congress was held on the occasion of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the first African Rector of a sub-Saharan African University, Mgr Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku. This celebration was preceded, the day before, by the inauguration of the monument of Mgr Luc Gillon, the first magnificent Rector and builder of Lovanium University.

SPEECH OF OCCASION

After the performance of the national anthem and that of the University of Kinshasa by the Mgr Luc Gillon Choir of the Notre Dame de la Sagesse Parish, four speeches of circumstance were delivered successively by four speakers, notably: the President of the National Assembly, the Minister of Higher and University Education (ESU), the Director General of ALMA and the President of the University Administration Council (CAU).

1. Welcome address by the President of the National Assembly

In his welcoming address to the People's Palace, the President of the National Assembly, the Honorable Aubin Minaku, first wished to warmly thank the audience, the congress participants and the organizers of the First ALMA Congress. He then underlined the symbolism of the choice made for the People's Palace in its role as "the seat of young democracy", where the honorable deputies and senators work, among whom there are a good number ofalumni, ex officio members of ALMA.

In a questioning in the manner of the author ofThus Spoke Zarathustra, the Honorable Aubin Minaku focused his speech first on the brief history of UNIKIN; then on its main missions and, finally, on its place once occupied among the four best universities in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside those of Ibadan (Nigeria), Makerere (Uganda) and Pretoria (South Africa).

In this laudatory tone, the Honorable President of the National Assembly paid a vibrant and respectful tribute to Mgr Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku as the first Black African University Rector, and strongly called on ALMA to be a heritage for all, in order to meet the challenges in the general interest of the DRC.

2. Opening of the First ALMA Congress by the Minister of ESU

In his opening remarks at the First ALMA Congress, the Minister of ESU, His Excellency Steve Mbikayi, recalled that the University of Kinshasa (Unikin) – formerly known as Lovanium (1954-1971) and then the Kinshasa Campus of the National University of Zaire (Unaza) (1971-1981) – is the eldest daughter of ESU on the national scene. Twenty years after the death of Mgr Luc Gillon, First Rector Magnifique of Lovanium University, and fifty years after the appointment and investiture of an African, or rather a Black African, at the head of this institution (1967), it is important, he stressed, to celebrate our icons during their lifetime and not only after their death, as we so often do.

According to the Minister of ESU, the theme on "contributing to the revival of Unikin" is not only challenging but also a source of hope. Everyone, in fact, Parliament, Government, Entrepreneurs, Churches, Parents, Former Students and today's stakeholders, are all called upon to contribute their stone to the revival of Unikin.Alma mater. In the hope that the pooling of contributions from each party will help in the revival of Unikin and the emergence of the Nation, His Excellency the Minister reassured that his supervisory Ministry, in the dynamics of its action focused on permanent dialogue, will actively participate in the various sessions of this congress by granting it its all-round support.

Furthermore, the Minister of ESU indicated that he was willing to receive the results of these meetings, cast in the form of recommendations, and to translate them into urgent proposals to the Council of Ministers, to the Prime Minister and Head of Government, and to the President of the Republic, Head of State, Grand Chancellor of Universities to whom, in passing, he did not fail to pay a vibrant and respectful tribute.

Finally, the Minister of Higher Education and Research pointed out that, in the field of higher and university education, and at Unikin specifically, it is appropriate to propose urgent solutions to the many challenges facing our country. Alma mater, today more than ever: the aging of the teaching staff due to a lack of better academic succession planning, the gap between the teaching program and social demand, insufficient funding of the University, the deterioration of infrastructure, etc.

3. Speech by the Director General of ALMA

In his speech as President of the Congress Executive Committee and Director General of ALMA, Dr. Gilbert Kabanda first wished to greet everyone and welcome them all. He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to God, the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the Minister of ESU, the President of the CAU and First Congolese and African University Rector, the Rector of Unikin, the voluntary contributors, all members of ALMA, as well as all members of the Government contributing to the organization of the Congress.

Dr. Gilbert Kabanda reminded the participants that ALMA was created on September 14, 1991, by 17 founders as a non-profit association (ASBL) in a difficult national socio-political and economic context. Of its founders, three are still alive, including Professor Dr. Diomi, Professor Kazadi, and Mr. Derouaux Ferdinand. At the request of the Director General of ALMA, the assembly had to observe a minute of silence in memory of the valiant former members of UNIKIN who have passed away. ad patres.

At the creation of ALMA, Dr. Kabanda emphasized, its founders assigned it five objectives that can be summarized in three: the complete rehabilitation of the University, the contribution to national development and solidarity among members. Against a backdrop of active solidarity, they decided to contribute to the rehabilitation of the cardinal values of their university which, until the early 1980s, was counted among the four best black African universities, alongside those of Ibadan in Nigeria, Makerere in Uganda and Pretoria in South Africa. Hence the urgent need to reflect on the decline of the University.

Furthermore, the Director General of ALMA deplored the timid functioning of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the association, as well as the very low participation of ALMA members in the annual meetings held on the University Campus of Kinshasa, with less than one hundred participants in a city which has thousands ofAlumniTo overcome this lethargy, a new Executive Committee was created on December 17, 2017. It was this Committee which had announced in its action program the holding of the First Congress on June 5, 2018, the date of commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of the death of Bishop Luc Gillon, First Rector and Builder of Lovanium University. This Congress was held from June 19 to 22, 2018, and the monument to Bishop Luc Gillon, funded by ALMA, was inaugurated at Unikin on June 18, 2018.

To conclude his remarks, the speaker indicated that universal ethics command every child to accompany his mother in her old age, or when she has survival or health problems. Therefore, the theme "ALMA's Contribution to the Revival of Unikin" aims to embrace all sectors of university life, from the scientific to the academic and from the moral to the material, including the cultural. Emphasis was placed on the role of Alumni, who constitute the most effective channel for connecting the University to the job market in all sectors, public and private, a relay which contributes significantly to establishing a match between teaching and research on the one hand, and the jobs created or to be created on the other.

4. Inaugural conference by Mgr Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku

In his inaugural lecture, on 1^er ALMA Congress Mgr Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku, President of the CAU and First Congolese and African University Rector, began by welcoming and recognizing the relevance of the interventions of his predecessors who had already paved the way for the discussions of the present congress. Indeed, the speech of the President of the National Assembly had cataloged many formidable challenges to be met: the Minister of ESU had just asked fundamental questions related to concrete reflections for the rebirth of our Alma mater, in view of the different challenges; and in fineThe speech of the Director General of ALMA constituted in itself the necessary prolegomena for understanding the content of the work of the First Congress.

For his part, the First Congolese and African Rector dwelled on some aspects of his academic career, especially since his appointment and investiture as Rector Magnificent of Lovanium University on July 29, 1967. Through a historical reminder of the highlights of his cursus honorum, Mgr Tharcisse Tshibangu drew a certain number of lessons which he wanted to share with the congress participants.

Immediately after his second thesis in theology in Louvain in 1966, Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu was to immediately return to Léopoldville with Bishop Luc Gillon, Rector Magnificent of Lovanium at the time, who had come to support him as his institution's first doctoral thesis holder. The following year, the Board of Directors of the University of Lovanium proposed him as Rector. The lesson he had learned from this providential appointment was foresight or preparation for succession, or rather, anticipation of events. As Rector, Mgr Tshibangure acknowledged having benefited from many assets: personal integration into the national spirit or conscience, the ease of entering into dialogue with national and international interlocutors, the trust of members of the Government, the adaptation to working in turn with around forty Ministers of the ESU and to managing with numerous Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate, etc.

All these assets were significantly consolidated from 1969 to 1971, years during which he experienced the painful events of the transition from Lovanium to the National University of Zaire (UNAZA) Kinshasa Campus, passing very briefly for two months through the National University of Congo (UNACO) (October 1971). In 1971, in fact, the Congress of Professors and Assistants of UNAZA – Kinshasa Campus and Lubumbashi Campus was held at Nsele. At the end of these meetings, the decision was made for a single national university with three campuses: Kinshasa, Kisangani and Lubumbashi. Bishop Tshibangu was again appointed Rector of the unified UNAZA, with the approval of the Holy See, under the pontificate of Blessed Pope Paul IV.

Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu summed up by calling on everyone to use their strengths for the rebirth of our Alma mater. He expressed and renewed his wish for the creation of the Congolese Academy (Letters-Sciences-Arts-Cultures) where the talents of each and every one can germinate, with a view to the influence of Unikin on the national and international scene. He concluded his communication by inviting all the congress participants to believe in the future of our Alma mater and to work diligently on it.

5. Supervision of assistants and students

As a preamble, Mgr Maurice Plevoets, Honorary Prelate of His Holiness the Pope, recalled that the value of a university depends on the quality of its professors: teaching, supervision of assistants and students, as well as scientific research.

First of all, the speaker clarified that universities and higher education institutions are created to educate young people. It is for them that the university exists, and it is for them that academic authorities and professors are appointed. In this regard, the most important thing is not what the professor teaches, but what the student learns, what they become after their training.

For Bishop Plevoets, the issue of "capacity" that is often discussed does not mean the number of places available in the rooms, but the number of students who can be monitored and supervised. Once the student is accepted at the University, a learning contract is established between the institution and the student: there are therefore rights and duties on both sides. For the Honorary Prelate, supervision is provided in multiple ways, which he summarizes in four principles: providing a personalized welcome at the beginning of the academic year, explaining the study method at the University, organizing formative tests with feedback, and explaining the objectives of a university education.

Furthermore, Bishop Plevoets emphasized that the successful hiring of assistants partly determines the academic and scientific level of the University. The faculty, after the department, can only propose a candidate for an assistantship if there is a professor who guarantees their supervision, not only for practical work, but also for scientific research. In other words, the professor becomes their tutor, responsible for ensuring that their assistant is working full-time and that they begin their research. The assistant is required to work all day at the university, either supervising students or carrying out their scientific research. They must sign a fixed-term contract. If they are unsuccessful in their first term, they will not be accepted for a second term.

Concluding his lecture, Bishop Plevoets emphasized that supervision is part of the workload of a professor, a research supervisor, and an assistant. The university teaching department must take steps to ensure the quality of this supervision.

6. Teaching and research at the University of Kinshasa

For Professor Bernard Lututala Mumpasi, Honorary Rector of the University of Kinshasa, the missions of a university are certainly well known: teaching, research, and community service. However, the balance between teaching and research poses a problem, as research at UNIKIN often takes a back seat.

According to the speaker, three reasons support the need to reflect on the balance between teaching and research: first, it is research that drives teaching: it is, so to speak, the most important activity at the University; second, the knowledge produced by the university helps society promote development; finally, research is one of the important sources of funding for the university (publications and inventions on AIDS, Ebola, primary health care, everything that is done at the University Clinics, the CNPP, the CRENKA, etc.).

Furthermore, the Honorary Rector insisted on the criteria of research, namely: the quality of research (number of students who have obtained a prize), the results of the research (publications of professors in international journals), the quality of professors, invention, digital technology, the quality of the library, etc. He notes, however, that for ten years, no Congolese university has been mentioned among the hundred African universities in the Shanghai ranking. Many inventions of Unikin alumni, however, go unnoticed, as it is true that the University does not appropriate them.

Furthermore, the speaker indicated that the trivialization of research at Unikinse is evident in the time commitments that prioritize teaching to the detriment of research, the criteria for appointment and promotion, the lack of funds in the State and University budgets, the marginalization of research assistants, the quality of scientific work (TFC, TFE, Dissertations and Doctoral Theses), the scarcity of scientific journals, etc.

To address this marginalization of research at Unikin, Professor Bernard Lututala recommends providing Unikin with research structures (General Secretariat for Research), reviewing time charges (both research and teaching), providing researchers with units capable of carrying out their research, allocating funds to the University for research, and convincing the Congolese State to finance research in its budget.

Teaching and Scientific Research “Case of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences” 

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOP N°1

TEACHING AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT UNIKIN

Recommendations 

1. Appointment of holders for all promotions, for each year of study.
2. Provide a mentor teacher for every new assistant, perhaps even for all current assistants.
3. Make the university teaching service operational.
4. Apply article 37 of the status of academic and scientific staff (40 hours per week).
5. Provide for all academic and scientific bodies a contract defining duties and rights.
6. Establish a support structure for all students across the university: firstly, support for new students and final year students.
7. Reduce and rigorously control the missions of teachers and project managers by establishing criteria.
8. Establish a support structure for assistants for their supervisory tasks and for their research.
9. Spread the good news about the university in the media.

10. Improve the recruitment of new assistants and comply with the current procedure, and plan their salary upon their appointment.
11. Ensure the adequacy between the training provided and the needs of society.
12. Determine the educational supervision to be provided to academic and scientific staff.
13. Establish a partnership between each faculty and the user sectors regarding the sale of services and vice versa.
14. To determine whether it is an elitist university or a university for the masses, and to prepare students for the international job market by respecting the relevant conditions.
15. Implement online teaching or computerization.
16. Strengthen the curricula of course programs in relation to the needs of society.
17. Appropriate the research work of academic and scientific staff.
18. Reward and reward deserving or high-performing researchers. Hence the establishment of the research academy.
19. Prepare students for creative entrepreneurship rather than limiting them to the role of job seeker.
20. Force every professor to have a research topic.
21. Publish articles in English and learn how to do it using a template.
22. Capitalize on the work of external researchers and bring them together regularly.
23. Write competitive international projects.
24. Apply the LMD system.
25. Rebuild the physical site of UNIKIN by putting up a fence and bringing fiber optics to the site.
26. Have advanced computer centers.
27. Freeing expression at university in apolitical conditions.
28. Strengthen ethical aspects: professional ethics, research ethics.
29. Apply the quality criteria required by academic instructions and the LMD system.
30. Reorient the citizenship education course and strengthen the student's self-belief.
31. Governance: Don't cheat students.
32. Ensure the formation of a managerial culture by organizing regular conferences.
33. Opt for an elite university while respecting the capacity and registration criteria.
34. It is imperative to set up a digital control whose missions will be to:

• Analyzing the university's digital problem.
• Analyze the problem related to optical fiber.
• Plan the installation of an internet network for sharing information between different departments and faculties.
• Analyze problems related to internal management software.
• Evaluate the capacity of the main server.
• Create academic software.
• Create electronic archiving software.
• Opt for databases and the installation of surveillance cameras within the university.
• Create a professional website that can enable communication between teachers and students.
• Seeking partners and investors to revitalize digital technology.
• Contact Google, Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, CISCO and other national and international universities and companies to invest and equip the university with computers; tablets, servers, databases, network equipment and training abroad.

WORKSHOP N° 2

THE UNIVERSITY IN THE NATION

Recommendations 

1. Rethink the Congolese education system and change the approach to teaching and research by emphasizing creative imagination in order to meet the challenges of society.
2. Revalue the teaching profession and reward the best teacher-researchers to encourage them to engage in full-time academic activities (teaching, research and community service).
3. Create a synergy between the University and decision-makers, particularly with a view to using the knowledge produced by the University.
4. Combat all forms of moral depravity, in particular by:

• the development of a code of professional ethics;
• the requirement of an oath for the new doctoral thesis holder who aspires to teach at the University;
• the establishment of a commission to combat anti-values;
• the development of a code of good conduct for students and, above all, the sanctioning of all bad practices in accordance with existing legal and regulatory texts or, failing that, developing them.

5. Break the silence of the Professors in the face of a Nation in peril and lead them to demonstrate “heroic resistance” in the face of tasteless solicitations that lead to the betrayal of their noble mission.
6. Promote academic freedom and depoliticize the University to protect members of the University Community from terror for their scientific positions on this or that other issue of concern to society.
7. Create a digital platform to promote the work of teachers.
8. Plan university education according to the needs of society and create a mechanism linking the university to the world of employment.
9. Establish an academic control committee (covering course content, teacher regularity, annual academic reports, etc.).
10. Create a formal mechanism for the popularization of the rights and duties of academic and scientific staff as well as students.

WORKSHOP NO. 3

UNIVERSITY OF KINSHASA AND ITS REACH IN THE WORLD

Recommendations

1. Ask the academic authorities to provide premises to enable ALMA to house a permanent service for monitoring project progress and to organize its library.
2. Open to publications from non-academic members of ALMA.
3. Publish all publications of teacher-researchers and scientists only in designated publishing houses.
4. Create an online scientific journal.
5. Develop a digitized collective catalog and merge all the BU directories.
6. Review all Bachelor's, DES/DES and doctoral theses to exploit and promote their projects.
7. Ask ALMA to initiate research awards, the first of which is to be awarded to the First Black African Rector, Mgr Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku.
8. Produce citizenship education and history manuals from cross-curricular publications belonging to Unikin.
9. Use the University logo in ALMA activities.
10. Institutionalize the mandatory deposit of university publications produced by teacher-researchers and scientists and ask the National Library to publish the National Bibliography.
11. Organize online lessons to address reception difficulties.
12. Respect the legal deposit formula, the first process of protecting intellectual property.
13. Draft laws in Parliament for the protection of intellectual property.
14. Create a new position within the Management Committee: the appointment of a Secretary General responsible for Research, Projects, Publications and Library; develop partnerships.
15. Take an interest in certain public services such as the Police, the Army and Businesses, and invite Alumni to give conferences on themes that interest all professional bodies to encourage questioning between businesses and the University.
16. Develop partnerships and make substantial funds available for research.
17. Publish partnerships at the level of joint theses between universities.
18. Publish Congolese researchers who have already received national and international awards.

II. PROJECTS

NOTE  

On the occasion of Alumni Day, which took place on December 4, 2016, and which coincided with the Silver Jubilee of our Association, the ALMA Board of Directors proceeded to the renewal of the Executive Committee which was at the end of its mandate.

As the new Executive Committee, currently headed by Dr. KABANDA Gilbert, takes office, the General Secretariat of the Board of Directors is providing the new team with this working tool which will enable it to contact the members already listed in our file in order to raise their awareness of actively taking part in ALMA's activities.

Our wish is to see ALMA become more dynamic and fully play the role that all members expect of it, taking into account the objectives that the Association has set for itself. It is up to the Executive Committee, which is responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the Association's activities, to establish a realistic and effective program to boost ALMA's activities for its visibility and influence throughout the country and around the world.

We wish this Committee every success and every achievement.

                              The Secretary General of the Board of Directors

                                                          NTA MBOKOY K. Nestor

1. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• THE OFFICE

• THE ADMINISTRATORS

1. MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

III. ALMA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

ASSOCIATION OF ALUMNI OF THE LOVANIUM CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ZAIRE KINSHASA CAMPUS, THE UNIVERSITY OF KINSHASA AND FRIENDS OF MONT-AMBA, ABBREVIATED "ALMA"

Non-Profit Association

Head Office: KINSHASA, 16 Avenue BASOKO

GOMBE AREA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The idea of creating an Association of Former Students of LOVANIUM University dates back to the 1^era decade following our country's accession to national sovereignty. At that time, a few core groups of former members grouped together in mutual societies or by promotions.

For various reasons, mainly political, these attempts fell into lethargy.

In 1990, thanks to the political democratization of our country, the project took shape, thanks to the tenacity and dedication of a core group of initiators determined to succeed. They drafted a first version of the statutes, which were examined and revised many times.

On September 14, 1991, the constitutive act of the statutes was born, establishing the existence of the Association of Former Students of LOVANIUM University, the National University of Zaire, Kinshasa Campus, and the University of Kinshasa. These statutes were amended by the Extraordinary General Assembly of April 16, 1994. They consider as a member anyone who has studied at least one year at this University and who applies for membership in the Association.

It is clear that the ALMA statutes, a valuable tool at the disposal of members, are by no means, like any human achievement, perfect or static: they are subject to amendments for greater practicability and applicability. The internal regulations complement them, and each member can and must contribute to the achievement of our common objectives.

The Board of Directors.

CONSTITUTIVE ACT

BETWEEN THE UNDERSIGNED

Whose names appear on the list in the Annex.

IT HAS BEEN AGREED AND DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

PREAMBLE

We, Former Students of the Catholic University LOVANIUM, of the National University of Zaire Campus of KINSHASA and of the University of Kinshasa and Friends of Mont-Amba;

Aware of the links existing between us thanks to our intellectual, scientific, cultural, religious and moral heritage;

Convinced that it is only through our common will that we safeguard this precious asset;

Driven, on the one hand, by our determination to always feel united in order to create and perpetuate a framework of mutual support, and on the other hand, by our faith in the contribution of higher education and high-level scientific research to the progress of peoples and of all humanity towards their development;

We decide to create these days, in accordance with the legislation in force in the Republic of Zaire, a Non-Profit Association whose statutes follow:

STATUTES

TITLE I: NAME – HEAD OFFICE – DURATION – RANGE OF ACTION

ARTICLE 1:

It is established between the undersigned, within the framework of the decree-law of September 18, 1965, a Non-Profit Association called Association of "Former Students of the Louvanium University, of the National University of Zaire Campus of KINSHASA and of the University of KINSHASA and Friends of Mont-Amba", abbreviated "ALMA", non-profit association

ARTICLE 2:

The Association's registered office is located in Kinshasa, at 16 Basoko Avenue, Gombe District. However, upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, an Extraordinary General Meeting may transfer the address to another location. Branches may be established within the Republic and abroad.

ARTICLE 3:

The Association's purpose is:

1. To promote the scientific, social and moral development of its Members with a view to a better contribution to the national development effort.
2. Promote the spirit of solidarity and mutual aid among members.
3. Contribute to the rehabilitation and promotion of the values, traditions, principles and university practices inherited by LOVANIUM University.
4. To contribute to the maintenance and development of quality teaching and scientific research on the Mont-Amba site.
5. Contribute to the search for appropriate solutions to the problems of development and the future of the country.

ARTICLE 4:

The Association is established for an indefinite period, starting on the day its statutes are signed.

ARTICLE 5:

The Association operates throughout the Republic of Zaire and abroad.

TITLE II: MEMBERS – ENTRY – EXIT

ARTICLE 6:

The Association is composed of: ordinary members, supporting members and honorary members.

Membership is acquired through voluntary individual membership.

The terms and conditions are set out in the internal regulations.

ARTICLE 7:

Can become:

• Ordinary member, anyone who has studied at LOVANIUM University, the National University of Zaire Campus of KINSHASA and at the University of KINSHASA; anyone who has taught or teaches there, has worked or works there.
• Supporting member, any natural or legal person, Zairian or foreign, interested in the social object of the Association.
• Honorary Member: Any natural or legal person, Zairian or foreign, to whom the Association confers this title for exceptional scientific or material services rendered either to themselves or to the University. This status is awarded by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 8:

The Member undertakes to accept all obligations resulting from the statutes and regulations of the Association.

ARTICLE 9:

The suspension of a member is pronounced by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 10:

Membership is lost by:

• Death noted by the Board of Directors.
• Voluntary resignation with reasons, addressed to the Board of Directors which decides at its first ordinary meeting and notifies within eight days.
• The termination for one of the serious reasons determined by the regulations of the Association, pronounced on the report of the Board of Directors, by the General Assembly sitting at two-thirds of its Members and deliberating by an absolute majority of voters.

TITLE III: ORGANS – ADMINISTRATION – REPRESENTATION

ARTICLE 11:

The organs of the Association are:

The National General Assembly, the Board of Directors, the National Steering Committee, the Regional Assemblies, the Regional Committees.

ARTICLE 12:

The National General Assembly sets the guidelines of the Association, decides sovereignly on all matters concerning it and, exclusively on the following:

1° Modification of the statutes and dissolution of the Association;

2° Election and revocation of members of the Board of Directors and Auditors;

3° Approval of Budgets and accounts.

ARTICLE 13:

The National General Assembly is composed of all ordinary members. Other Members of the Association may participate with voting rights.

Each Member has one vote; he may be represented by another by means of a special written proxy. No proxy may hold more than two proxies.

Only Members who have paid their dues and are not subject to any sanction may take part in the vote.

ARTICLE 14:

The National General Assembly meets in ordinary session once a year.

Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened if necessary at the request of the Board of Directors or at the reasoned request of two-thirds of its Members.

Its agenda is proposed by the Board of Directors. It includes, among other items, the mandatory examination of the annual accounts to be filed in January as prescribed by Article 16 of the Decree-Law.

All General Meetings are held at the Association's registered office.

The Board of Directors may, in the event of force majeure, set another location

ARTICLE 15:

The National General Assembly shall validly meet with half of its ordinary members. In the event that the quorum is not reached, another meeting shall be convened within a week. This meeting shall validly meet with the members present.

The decisions of the National General Assembly are taken by a simple majority of voters, subject to compliance with the law and the statutes in certain matters.

ARTICLE 16:

The National General Assembly deliberates on all the activities of the Association, takes decisions applicable to all members, approves the balance sheet and the action program of the Board of Directors and the National Steering Committee.

ARTICLE 17:

The Association is administered by a Board of Directors emanating from its National General Assembly. It is composed of at least nine members: a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary General and five other Directors.

ARTICLE 18:

The Board of Directors is elected by a simple majority of the members present at the National General Meeting from among natural persons, ordinary members enjoying the highest moral and intellectual consideration, subject to article twenty-first of these statutes.

ARTICLE 19:

No one may hold more than one position on the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 20:

The President and Vice-Presidents are elected by a two-thirds majority. A second round is held to decide, by absolute majority, between the two leading candidates.

 ARTICLE 21:

If there is only one candidate for a position, the election may be won by acclamation.

 ARTICLE 22:

The Board of Directors provides guidance to the National Steering Committee based on the broad guidelines dictated by the National General Assembly. It meets three times a year at the call of its President in ordinary session and, in extraordinary session whenever the best interests of the Association so require. It can only validly deliberate if the President or one of the Vice-Presidents are present.

ARTICLE 23:

The Board of Directors is the Association's driving and decision-making body. Its decisions are made by a simple majority of at least five members present and voting.

ARTICLE 24:

The Chairman of the Board of Directors is responsible for implementing the decisions of the National General Assembly. He has the broadest administrative and management powers; he represents the Association in court and vis-à-vis third parties; he is responsible for the smooth running of the Association; he convenes and chairs the meetings of the Board of Directors, signs with the Secretary General any decision binding the Association and with the Treasurer the documents and other financial documents.

ARTICLE 25:

The Vice-Presidents assist the President. They replace him in order, and according to the hierarchy, in the event of absence or impediment.

The internal regulations determine the specific responsibilities of each of them.

ARTICLE 26:

The Secretary General prepares the agenda for the meetings of the Board of Directors, which he submits to the President; he organizes and administers the archives, and writes the minutes of the meetings.

ARTICLE 27:

If the President and Vice-Presidents all resign, the National General Assembly shall elect their replacements to complete their term of office.

ARTICLE 28:

The President, the two Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General constitute the Bureau of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 29:

In the event of an emergency, the Office decides on matters which fall within the competence of the Board of Directors, with the responsibility of informing it at its next meeting.

ARTICLE 30:

The National Steering Committee is the body responsible for implementing and monitoring the decisions of the Board of Directors within the framework of the general policy set by the National General Assembly.

He is responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the Association's activities.

ARTICLE 31:

The National Steering Committee is composed of a Director General who heads it, a Deputy Director General, a Secretary responsible for Administration, an Assistant Secretary responsible for Relations with the Regional Committees and a Treasurer.

ARTICLE 32:

The Director General is responsible for ensuring the correct execution of the responsibilities of the National Steering Committee.

He is assisted by a Deputy Director who replaces him in the event of his absence or impediment.

ARTICLE 33:

The Secretary for Administration prepares the agenda for the meetings of the National Steering Committee, which he submits to the Director General; he organizes and administers the archives, and writes the minutes of the meetings. The Deputy Secretary is responsible for relations with the Regional Committees. He replaces the Secretary in the event of absence or impediment.

ARTICLE 34:

The Treasurer collects contributions, manages finances, draws up the annual balance sheet, and signs the documents and other financial documents with the President.

ARTICLE 35:

The Director General, the Deputy Director General, the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary and the Treasurer are appointed by the Board of Directors for a renewable term of three years. They may be suspended, dismissed or removed from office for serious misconduct by the Board of Directors, acting by a two-thirds majority of the members.

The elements constituting serious misconduct are explained in the internal regulations.

ARTICLE 36:

The other organizational and operational arrangements of the National Steering Committee are specified in the internal regulations.

ARTICLE 37:

The bodies of the Association in the Region are: the Regional Assembly and the Regional Committee.

ARTICLE 38: The Regional Assembly is made up of members living in the region. It elects and monitors the Regional Committee. Its other prerogatives and operation are, mutatis mutandis, those provided for in Articles twelfth to sixteenth of these statutes relating to the National General Assembly.

ARTICLE 39:

The Regional Committee is responsible for achieving the Association's objectives in the region. Its composition, powers, election and operation are, mutatis mutandis, those indicated in Articles 31 to 37 of these statutes.

ARTICLE 40:

Regional members can be grouped by promotion, diploma, profession and place of work.

TITLE IV. FINANCIAL YEAR RESOURCES

ARTICLE 41:

The Association's resources consist of the subscriptions and contributions of its members, donations and legacies from individuals and legal entities, voluntary contributions from public authorities and miscellaneous income.

Consolidated annual accounts are kept, showing an operating account, the result for the financial year and a balance sheet.

Each Regional Committee must keep overall accounts of the Association.

ARTICLE 42:

Acquisitions and disposals of real estate must be declared, along with their price, in writing to the Ministry of Justice within three months.

Donations and legacies will only be received after an authorization order from the same Ministry.

ARTICLE 43:

The financial year begins on the first of January and ends on the thirty-first of December of each year.

However, the first financial year begins on the date of signing of these statutes.

ARTICLE 44:

The Association's accounts are regularly audited by two Auditors elected by the National General Assembly. They report on their work during the annual presentation of the Association's general report.

The latter, convened for this purpose, must include at least half of the ordinary members who have paid their dues. If the quorum is not reached, an Extraordinary General Meeting is convened at least fifteen days later.

On this occasion, it deliberates validly regardless of the number of members present or represented. This provision applies mutatis mutandis to regional assemblies.

TITLE V. AMENDMENT OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION - DISSOLUTION - MISCELLANEOUS

ARTICLE 45:

The majority required to amend the statutes is half plus one of the ordinary members. The amendment only becomes effective after a decree from the Ministry of Justice.

ARTICLE 46:

In the event of voluntary or statutory dissolution pronounced by court or by any other means, the National General Assembly appoints one or more committees responsible for the liquidation of the Assembly's assets.

It allocates the net assets to the University of KINSHASA in accordance with the provisions of Articles 20 et seq. of the Decree-Law of September 18, 1965.

The majority required to dissolve the Association is two-thirds of the ordinary members.

ARTICLE 47:

Members undertake to favor conciliation to resolve any conflict that may arise between them or with the Association.

If this procedure fails, only the courts of the Association's headquarters have jurisdiction to hear the matter.

ARTICLE 48:

The Association declares that it refers to the legislation in force for anything not provided for in these statutes.

TITLE VI. TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 49:

Pending the establishment of all the bodies of the Association:

1. Candidates for Board of Directors must reside in the region where the Association's headquarters are located and be in good standing with their membership fees.
2. The powers of the National Steering Committee are exercised by the Office of the Board of Directors, to which the Treasurer is attached.
3. The Board of Directors appoints regional Project Managers to establish the Association there.
4. The powers and responsibilities of the Regional Assemblies and the Regional Committee of KINSHASA are exercised respectively by the National General Assembly and the Board of Directors.
5. Exceptionally and in order to effectively animate the Association in its early days, the National General Assembly will meet in ordinary session once a quarter during the first three years of its creation.

ARTICLE 50:

These statutes were adopted at the Constitutive General Meeting held at CEPETEDE in Kinshasa on September 14, 1991 and amended by the Extraordinary General Meeting of April 16, 1994.

LIST OF SIGNATORY MEMBERS

• LEBUGHE PIERRE
• MPASE NSELENGE MPETI
• TAKIZAL LUYAN Muis MBINGIN
• GAMBEMBO FUMU WA UTADI
• BAYONA BA MEYA
• BAZA LUEMBA
• NDONGALA TADI LEWA
• RAMAZANI MWENE MALUNGU
• NGOY MAKOBO JACQUES
• LENOIR PIERRE
• DERCUAUX FERDINARD
• KABEMBA JOSEPH
• KAZADI KALANDA WA DILE
• KABIKA KALANDA
• MALU WA KALENGA
• MABI KAKESE
• DIOMI MAWESA