The Rector of Unikin, the Professor Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, chaired this Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in the Mgr Luc Gillon promotions room, the Popularization Workshop of the “DRC Scientific Research Policy Document”. Indeed, after the validation of this Document in October 2021, the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation had launched, under the coordination ofInvesting In people(IIP) of Professor Raïssa Malu, the popularization campaign of the said document which now turns out to be the roadmap for all scientists and researchers in the DRC.

The Rector of Unikin praised the Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, His Excellency José Mpanda, for his involvement in the development of this document and the contribution of academics and researchers from various higher education, university, and research institutions, who took part in this scientific activity in person and online. They will thus contribute to the development of the strategic action plan and the implementation of said official document.

 The Rector of Unikin also appreciated the working climate surrounding this important development tool, the objective of which is to provide a framework of reference for steering development in the scientific research sector in the DRC.

The team leader of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Junior Kabongo who presented this document to the participants, mentioned some of the priority areas taken into account. These are the areas of food security and demographic challenges, health and social well-being, intensification of the industrial sector and technological challenges, sustainable management of natural resources and climate change, the construction of a knowledge society and human challenges.

Professor Raïssa Malu, coordinator of the non-profit organization "Investing In People," who led the team to disseminate this document in all the provinces of the DRC, said that Unikin is the final stage of this dissemination in Kinshasa.

The Secretary General in search of Unikin, the Professor Antoine Tshimpi Wola who led this popularization day, emphasized the need for academics to appropriate the quintessence of this document and to develop bankable projects based on the results of their research, to strengthen the services to be provided to society. These projects will have to benefit from funding to be obtained from the government and other national and international partners to support research.

In the exchanges, the Professor Oscar Nsaman-o-lutu in his capacity as President of the Association of Approved Private Universities (AUPA), spoke of the need to teach science with management to form job incubators.

The implementation of structures promoting researchers and the results of scientific research, the creation of research funds to be managed by the universities themselves, are all proposals raised by the participants.

The Director of the School of Criminology, the Professor Raoul Kienge-Kienge, requested to take into account in the "DRC Scientific Research Policy Document", the areas of criminology such as conflict management and poverty of the population. He also mentioned the areas of exploitation of mineral resources and social regulation as well as the promotion of national expertise in the same way and treatment as international consultants.

We note that this document is structured around three strategic axes, broken down into seven programs, 19 sub-programs, and 49 actions. Its implementation will contribute to the recovery of the scientific and technological research sector and increase its impact on the country's development.

Other online speakers from UCC, UNILU, UNIKIS, UPN, UPGI, UELES University, Official University of Bukavu, ULK, ULB, IFASIC, IFA/Yangambi, and CEPROMAD University participated in this day.

                                                                                                                                                         Rectorate Press.

                                                                                                                                                   Other source: ACP.