SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH REPORT 2020-2021

Your Excellency, Minister of Higher and University Education,

Mr. Governor of the city of Kinshasa,

Mr. Mayor of the Commune of Lemba,

Monsignor the President of the Board of Directors of the Universities of Congo, represented here,

Mr. Rector of our Alma Mater,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Management Committee of the University of Kinshasa,

Dear Colleagues, Professors and Research Professors,

Members of the Scientific Body,

Members of the administrative, technical and labor corps,

Dear Parents,

Dear Students,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, in your titles and capacities, all protocol respected.

It is a pleasant pleasure for me to address you solemnly, to reiterate to you very cordially the welcome to this double closing ceremony and the inauguration of the year 2021-2022 at the University of Kinshasa. This is the first time in the history of the ESU in DR Congo, that a Secretary General for Research speaks at a solemn ceremony of conferring academic degrees. The reason is simple, the University of Kinshasa, eldest daughter of the Universities in our Country, is the first and only one to date to have this position of the Management Committee.

In reality, the upcoming academic year, 2021-2022, will indeed be that of the KAYEMBE Management Committee. Here, in 2020-2021, it is out of duty and respect for the principle of continuity of public services of the State that we are required to make a Scientific Report on the level of achievement of scientific research within our Alma Mater. Indeed, as you know, our Management Committee currently totals two and a half months and the position of the SGR is organized by Ministerial Order number 0325/MINESU/CAB.MIN/MNB/RMM/2021 of October 18, 2021 defining the attributions of the SGRecherche in the Management Committees of the Universities of the DR Congo.

It is in accordance with the attributions set by the aforementioned Ministerial decree that I have structured this Research Report in the following 13 points:

1. Supervision of doctoral students;

2. From the field of Publications;

3. Scientific missions;

4. Organization of conferences, symposia and workshops;

5. The influence of UNIKIN;

6. Monitoring and evaluation of libraries, laboratories, research centers and museums;

7. On the organization of publications, bookstores and other spaces for popularizing research results

8. From the central file of publications and the virtual directory of UNIKIN researchers;

9. Digitization of research projects and results;

10. Directory and monitoring of Teacher-Researchers on training missions

11. On the valorization of research results and UNIKIN-Companies-Societies collaboration-Political universe;

12. Supervision of the Research Ethics Commission and the fight against anti-values;

13. Supervision of administrative departments:

 The research department

 Personnel monitoring and supervision department,

 Directorate of Libraries and the University Museum.

I have chosen not to make a long speech, so I will limit myself to citing a few achievements and looking to the future, in accordance with the vision and general policy of the Rector.

I. SUPERVISION OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS

In this regard, throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, UNIKIN organized 87 doctoral theses defense exams, 89 DEA/DES dissertations and 48 specialist diplomas in several sectors of the Faculty of Medicine.

All of these graduates will be proclaimed by the various Deans and assigned reciprocal degrees by the Rector. This is the moment to tell our graduates that the conferral of academic degrees should in no way mean a break with your University. Now is the time to begin the work. You must publish your dissertations and transform your theses into works published in indexed editions. You remain in contact with your University, in the category of UNIKIN Alumni and Ambassadors.

Furthermore, since last October, the Management Committee has decided to rigorously apply the regulatory and legal texts regarding:

 Registration for postgraduate studies;

 Requirements for publication of at least one article in an internationally renowned publishing structure;

 Standardization of procedures for the defense and evaluation of scientific work;

 Creation and organization of doctoral schools.

II. PUBLICATIONS FIELD

As you know, the University draws its inspiration from its research and is informed by the results of scientific work, while also informing society as a whole.

Throughout the year 2020-2021, we have so far identified 94 articles published in internationally renowned journals, 182 books and several research reports.

Articles and books published in non-indexed journals/editions number in the thousands.

The merits of our researchers are recognized and have crossed borders. In this regard, let us mention, but not be limited to, the prize for best young researcher from the MERCK Foundation of Germany, won by Professor NGBOLUA KOTO-te-NYIWA of the Faculty of Sciences of UNIKIN, the feats achieved by the team of researchers working under the supervision of Professor MUYEMBE TAMFUM of the Faculty of Medicine, the impetus for the repatriation of treasures looted during colonization. This work is overseen by our Professors NDAYWEL-e-NZIEM, Jean OMASOMBO and many others.

How can we not mention the great success of the mandate, at the African Union, of HE Mr. the Democratic Republic of Congo. These are indeed the Members of our University, including in particular NTUMBA LUABA of the Faculty of Law, NDAYWEL-e-NZIEM of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, etc. This is to say that the University of Kinshasa is a University that serves the nation and Africa as a whole.

Under the leadership of the Rector, the Management Committee has embarked on the path of:

 Modernize and make viable our UNIKIN editions and journals;

 Encourage our researchers to publish in indexed and internationally renowned structures;

 To motivate, facilitate and encourage our researchers to subscribe to scientific social networks.

We are delighted to inform the University Community that in November and December 2021 alone, at least 108 UNIKIN Teacher-Researchers opened profiles on ResearGate, Google schola, Scimago, etc. This is important in the networking process for the opening of our researchers to the world and the visibility of UNIKIN.

III. SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS

Scientific research is carried out through numerous trips between laboratories, offices, fields, conference rooms, etc. This entire process requires countless movements.

For the 2020-2021 academic year, the University of Kinshasa organized and/or facilitated the organization of 350 scientific missions in the provinces, in Africa and in other continents of the world, with its own resources.

We have now introduced a rapid system and simplified the processing, in emergency mode, of all researcher mobility application files.

Conversely, our university has once again become a popular and well-attended institution. Throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, we welcomed dozens of foreign visitors and doctoral students.

For example, we can cite:

 Cameroonian, Malagasy and Tunisian students came to study water issues at the UNIKIN school specializing in Water Resources Research in the Congo Basin,

 The Visit of Professor Jacky Bouju from the University of AIX en Provence/France,

 The visit of the representative of Central Africa of the AUF,

 Executives from Huawei, TOTAL, etc. came to request partnerships with the University of Kinshasa,

IV. ORGANIZATION OF CONFERENCES, COLLOQUIA AND WORKSHOPS

In addition to organized research trips within the country and abroad, the University of Kinshasa has organized several symposia, conferences, workshops, and other scientific meetings, both on the university campus and in the city and abroad. From now on, each month, the SGRecherche organizes at least one major transdisciplinary and collective interest conference. For example:

 The Conference on National Cohesion Co-organized by the SGRecherche, the Ministry attached to the President of the Republic as well as our researchers from the Faculties of Letters and Human Sciences, Social, Administrative and Political Sciences and those from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences,

 The conference Co organized by the SGRecherche and a consortium of more than 7 research centers on the issue of armed conflicts;

 The AFMED Colloquium which closed at the University of Kinshasa and brought together more than 500 Congolese Doctors working abroad,

 ETC.

V. ON THE REACH OF UNIKIN

Ladies and Gentlemen,

UNIKIN is a great university. Our national pride. We have decided to work to promote its influence and visibility. To this end, we initiated the following actions throughout the 2020-2021 academic year:

 The reopening and revitalization of the University website with tabs referring to each of our Faculties;

 We have compiled a list of our researchers and compatriots who work in National and International Institutions to form a core of Excellence and Ambassadors of UNIKIN. By doing so, the name of UNIKIN has become very present in many places and in the right way.

 This is the opportunity, and the right one, to tell you, today's graduates, that you are the Ambassadors of this University. We were all trained there, its name will accompany us and will be cited before each great promotion in the life of each of us, until the day of our mutual deaths. You will transmit this message to your elders whom you will meet in the professional field, you will tell them to remember the formative mother and, from time to time, come back and consult your masters in the face of life's difficulties.

VI. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF LIBRARIES, LABORATORIES, RESEARCH CENTERS AND MUSEUMS

The University has established several projects and partnerships to enhance the viability of the University Library. The Faculty of Medicine Library is already one of the best libraries in Africa.

Thanks to the vision of the Rector, within a semester, the Central Library will be our continental pride.

VII. ORGANIZATION OF PUBLISHING EDITIONS, BOOKSTORES AND OTHER SPACES FOR THE POPULARIZATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS

With the same modernizing vision, we have established a technical unit that works on promoting and maintaining quality assurance within our structures for communication and popularization of scientific research results. This is how:

– University presses are being modernized,

– Our Faculty annals, engaged in the process of transformation into internationally renowned journals, are in transition towards regional influence,

– The University Radio, based at the FLSH, is being reborn and within a semester, will be the best radio station in the country,

- Etc.

VIII. OF THE VIRTUAL DIRECTORY OF UNIKIN RESEARCHERS AND THE DIGITIZATION OF RESEARCH PROJECTS AND RESULTS

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have set up an electronic directory containing the profiles of our researchers in order to present the expertise available at UNIKIN.

This directory is available virtually, in experimental mode, on the UNIKIN website, using specialized software.

In the following week, we will share the links to allow our researchers to update the different profiles before making it available to the virtual universal community and the business world.

IX. DIRECTORY AND MONITORING OF TEACHER-RESEARCHERS ON TRAINING MISSIONS

To date, several Assistant Professors from our respective Faculties are on doctoral training missions outside the country. Many are in Europe, China, the USA, Canada, and several African countries.

With this momentum, hope is reborn for the future of the next generation of academics in our University and Country.

Furthermore, the University of Kinshasa trains professors from almost all of the country's universities.

X. On the valorization of research results and UNIKIN-Companies-Societies collaboration-Political universe

 The issue of the gap between scientific language and business language, this is why we decided to initiate a project on the writing of notes for decision-makers, so that the results of our research are written in a language and a language accessible to businesses,

 We have valued the work of our students in the context of social responsibility. It is in this context that our students of Environmental Sciences have initiated plastic bins and those of the Polytechnic Faculty, have been involved in the lighting of the University site. There is innovation at UNIKIN which is highlighted;

XI. SUPERVISION OF THE RESEARCH ETHICS COMMISSION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-VALUES

At the University, we are committed to training people as whole people. Thus, we have established a committee responsible for contextualizing the ethics charter and the policy for combating anti-values, including plagiarism.

The University has embarked on the path of acquiring anti-plagiarism software.

XII. SUPERVISION OF MANAGEMENTS

 The research department

 Personnel monitoring and supervision department,

 Directorate of Libraries and the University Museum

In order not to abuse the attention of your august assembly, I ask those interested to visit our Offices and/or our website to access the various activity reports of the Directorates and Services that work for the research sector.

Distinguished Guests,

The General Secretariat for Research is a response to existential academic anxiety in Congo-Kinshasa. With the General Secretariat for Research, we aim, in addition to diploma-granting training, to make the university an industry for the production of knowledge and the commercialization of expertise, a lever for incubating development in society, and a center of excellence for the country.

Research is therefore a response to the underdevelopment of the country and of Africa. It thus intends to proceed to a co-construction of academies-cities, teachers-researchers-Students and industrialists conduct research rooted in our sociological realities. We strive for excellence, competitiveness, and the combination of intellectual skills, ethical and moral skills, and skills that transform society.

The Rector's vision is to promote dialogue between our University, the worlds of economic affairs, and socio-cultural and sporting activities. As you can see, UNIKIN is becoming a university of society, in society, and for society.

Let us note together that the academic year that will begin on January 5th heralds major projects. My most ardent hope is that these projects mobilize energies and benefit, from all of us, the attention and participation of everyone, regardless of our fields of activity and location. I feel quite confident. It is this strength of confidence in all of us that leads us to excellence on the path toward the desired change.

Before I conclude, please allow me to give you an image from this speech:

 Suppose an army of antelopes, led by an antelope, must go to war against the volcanic fire that is decimating the forest. At the first earthquake, all of them, the chief and his fighters, will flee and disperse,

 Let us suppose that it is an army of Antelopes, led by a Lion, as soon as the earthquake is announced, even before the volcanic eruption, the whole body of combatants will flee, abandoning the Chief alone, the war will not be won,

 Suppose it is an army of Lions led by an Antelope, at the first earthquake and volcanic eruption, the head of the army will flee abandoning the body without coordination, no victory will be expected,

 Let us finally suppose that it is an army of Lions, led by a Lion, it will resist and advance despite earthquakes, waves and Gas from the Lakes and countless volcanic eruptions. It will advance until it channels the magmas, spares the city, rebuilds it and develops it.

If I mention this African wisdom, it is just to tell you that our Rector is a Lion who leads an army of Lions. The Assessment we make today owes everything to his Vision, much to his leadership and his sense of work organization. This date of December 14, 2021, will remain forever engraved in the collective memory of UNIKIN. It constitutes both the culmination of a considerable work of takeoff undertaken since the appointment of our Management Committee and the beginning of the beginning of a long journey full of achievements, under the leadership of HE. Mr. Minister of ESU-DRC, the Government of the Republic and HE. Mr. President of the Republic.

Distinguished Guests,

Thank you.

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