Ivory Coast

The first campus of the EDHEC Group was opened in Abidjan, in 2003. Then, Bouaké and San Pedro campuses opened respectively in 2009 and 2012. EDHEC group offers Higher Education diplomas in the Industrial and Tertiary sectors.

One of the main objectives of EDHEC is to make education accessible to all. Therefore, the school has introduced a discount policy for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and who do not benefit from government scholarships. As a result, ~100% of their students receive each year a scholarship either from the government or the school.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Paul Dakuyo is the founder and the General Manager of EDHEC GROUP. He holds an MBA in Business Administration from the American Pacific University (1988), a DESS in Economic Diagnosis from the Faculty of Economic Sciences of Grenoble (1994), and a PhD in Business Administration from the Washington International University. After his studies, he returned to Côte d'Ivoire where he has been teaching for 38 years. Passionate about education, and willing to contribute to the decentralization of the educational system he decided to create the EDHEC Group in 2003, as well as NIMBA Consulting (in 2004), a training and placement firm.

THE PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P is committed to working with EDHEC Group to:

⇒ Improve the EDHEC IT Pack

⇒ allow all the students to have access to books by subscribing to a digital library that will be accessible on all the campuses through the IT rooms.

⇒ open a laboratory for a food processing program in San-Pedro

⇒ open an infirmary in San Pedro

⇒ improve equipment in the multimedia room equipment and  internet connection

⇒ train career center agents

EXPECTED IMPACTS

⇒ Boost the employability of young people

⇒ Improve the quality of training provision through the acquisition of new equipment and services

The Institut International des Affaires en Entrepreneuriat (2IAE) is a Grande Ecole founded in 2006 and has five campuses in Côte d'Ivoire: Abidjan (Cocody and Yopougon), Yamoussoukro, Mbatto and Azaguié.
The school offers courses focusing on the industrial sector (agricultural production and civil engineering), with a high proportion of practical courses offering students excellent employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. For example, the agricultural programs feature facilities such as a fish pond, a farm and several experimental plots.
Entrepreneurship is at the heart of 2IAE training. All students enrolling at the 2IAE, whatever their program, receive entrepreneurship courses. In addition to promoting self-employment, the founder partners with national and international institutions (Office International des Migrations, European Union, Agence Emploi Jeune) to set up programs where students with vulnerable profiles receive short-term training with many practical courses to help them integrate into the workforce.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Séraphin Koua is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for agriculture. His vision is that entrepreneurship is one of the surest ways for African countries to solve the problem of poverty and unemployment. His aim is to train young Ivorians in self-employment and contribute to the country's socio-economic development.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P is committed to working with 2IAE to:

⇒ Improve the quality of teaching by diversifying experimental plots and equipping practical rooms for biochemistry, electronics and agri-food courses, and acquiring books for its libraries for the Azaguié, Yopougon, Yamoussoukro and Mbatto campuses.

⇒ Enhance the digital skills of students at Mbatto and Azaguié by equipping multimedia rooms for e-learning and improving the internet connection.

⇒ Improve student employability by training career center agents in best practices for professional integration.

⇒ Improve campus safety by helping the school implement a new safety process (evacuation drill) across all campuses.

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Strengthen young people's employability

⇒ Improve the quality of training provision through the acquisition of new equipment

Founded in 1996, Groupe Bowl is a Grande Ecole and a technical and vocational training school offering higher education, vocational training, and training courses in the tertiary and industrial sectors.  The Bowl Group has eight campuses across Côte d'Ivoire: Abidjan (Cocody, Marcory, 2 in Yopougon), Bouaké, Dabou, Daloa and San Pedro.
Vocational training at the Group's Bowl attracts a large number of students because of the type of programs offered (cashier, care assistant, medical delegate) and the school's good integration rate (100% of students get an internship after their training and 61% of trainees get a job - 2021 data) thanks to the many partnerships they have with recruiters (+250 partnerships). From the start, the Bowl Group has understood that practical training leading to qualifications represents a fundamental factor of competitive distinction and professional recognition for young people and companies alike. That's why our training programs place practical experience at the core of learning. The majority of Groupe Bowl students are women (75% of women enrolled for the 2022-2023 academic year).

THE ENTREPRENEUR

A graduate in export sales engineering, Jean Paul Dodo is also C.I.M. certified (Chartered Institute of Marketing in London). In 1996, in association with university friends, he set up a small business offering home tuition to children in the French collège and lycée system. However, to cope with the drop in business due to the socio-political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire in 2002, they decided to diversify their activities by introducing vocational training. In 2002, Group Bowl was accredited by the Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training to provide vocational training. At the same time, he has been a trainer in marketing and stock management, a software product manager and president of the Coordination des entreprises privées de formation professionnelle de Côte d'Ivoire (CCPFP-CI).

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P is committed to working with Group Bowl to:

⇒ Improve the quality of education with the acquisition of teaching materials and the installation of a multimedia room for digital practice.

⇒ Reinforce well-being and safety on campus by building a canteen and an infirmary on the Daloa campus

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Strengthen the employability of young people

⇒ Improve the quality of training provision through the acquisition of new equipment

The Institut Ivoirien de Technologie (IIT) is a higher education institution created in 2019 and providing training in the fields of engineering and management.

The general philosophy that guides the education provided at IIT is that of "Mens et Manus", which means Mind and Hands. The founder, Caliste Claude M'Bahia, believes that the acquisition of knowledge is as important as its practical application in the field. Therefore, IIT combines practice with theory through group work and interactive learning with professionals.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Caliste Claude M'BAHIA is a computer engineer, entrepreneur and company director with a passion for technology. He graduated from the University of Washington and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He began his entrepreneurial career with the creation of Smart Technologies, an IT services and consulting company where he served as CEO for four years. He then decided to found the Institut Ivoirien de Technologie (IIT) in order to contribute to the emergence of a more prosperous African society, through the learning of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P is committed to working with the Institut Ivoirien de Technologie to:

⇒ Improve the quality of education with the acquisition of electronic telecommunications and network equipment 

⇒ Support the implementation of a scholarship program for girls co-funded by the program and already identified ecosystem actors, 

⇒ Strengthen campus safety and security through the implementation of an infirmary and a new security process

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Strengthen the employability of young people

⇒ Improve the quality of training provision through the acquisition of new equipment

⇒ Enable twenty young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to access appropriate training through a scholarship system

Siallou Production Agricole & Animale (SPAA) is a company specialized in the transformation of coffee beans (green coffee) into ground coffee in Ivory Coast.

The entrepreneur

SPAA was founded by Armand Siallou Kouadio, a young entrepreneur with a DUT in Communication and Human Resources and a BTS in Business Communication. After spending 11 years with agricultural cooperatives in coffee and cocoa, he founded his own company.

Partnership with I&P and Comoé Capital

SPAA is supported by I&P and Comoé Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership will enable to organize the production unit and to improve its production capacity. SPAA will also benefit from a technical support which will revitalize the accounting and commercial functions of the company and improve the production process as well as the quality of the products.

Lika Cosmétique is a company specialized in the creation and sale of perfumes and scented care products in Côte d'Ivoire. It offers its customers a wide range of quality products including perfumes, incenses, scrubs, soaps and night creams. 

The entrepreneur

Lika Cosmétique was founded by Ms. Barro Zalika, a young woman entrepreneur with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and genetics from the University of Fatih in Turkey and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from HEC Abidjan. Zalika Barro has several experiences in various sectors (cosmetics, communication) and has received several awards including Entrepreneur of the Year from the BJKD Foundation. She is also part of the TOP 15 young Ivorian entrepreneurs who are changing the Ivory Coast according to the magazine “Journal d’Abidjan”.

Partnership with Comoé Capital and I&P

Lika Cosmétique is supported by I&P and Comoé Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The funding will allow the company to develop a new market segment, especially in local stores and popular markets (mass market) through the production of mini fomats of its flagship products, which are spices and barbecue sauces. This funding will be supported by technical assistance to improve the company's structuring, its quality processes and its marketing and sales actions.

The Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques Commerciales et de Technologies (ESSECT)-Poincaré was founded in 1966 and is a private higher education institution offering training in the industrial and tertiary fields. It has a total of seventeen programs in various fields such as management, hotel management, computer systems, tropical agriculture, etc.

ESSECT Poincaré is committed to giving young people access to education, regardless of their social and financial conditions, through a scholarship system. 

In addition, the school wishes to boost the employability of young people. To this end, it has created the Cabinet de Formation, de Suivi et d'Insertion (CAFSI), a structure that assists students in finding internships and jobs through a partnership with 12 companies. In addition, the school encourages hands-on entrepreneurial activities with spaces dedicated to experimentation, including a web radio. Managed by communication students, GBÊKÊ FM focuses on education, culture, and health and provided distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Alfred HAWMMOND, an entrepreneur with a passion for education, started a bookstore in the 1960s in addition to his teaching activities. In 1966, he founded the Commercial Institute (former name of ESSECT), which included a middle and high school before integrating programs dedicated to higher technical training, in the eighties. Founder member of the National Federation of Private Lay Institutions of Côte d'Ivoire (FENEPLACI) and the Union Patronale de l'Enseignement Supérieur Privé (UPESUP), he was named Chevalier of the Ordre National du Mérite by the Ivoirian government, in recognition of his commitment to the higher education sector.

Dr. Konan Marcellin KOUAKOU is the Director General of the Bouaké campus of the school since 2009. A graduate of the University Alassane Ouattara, he is also a lecturer, researcher, consultant and writer. Dr. Kouakou is at the origin of the school's radio (Radio GBÊKÊ FM) and the Orientation and Training Center.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P has committed to ESSECT Poincaré to: 

⇒ Extend its hands-on programs, in particular through an experimental farm;

⇒ Reinforce its digitalization strategy by modernizing its equipment and extending the coverage area of its educational radio channel;

⇒ Set up of a financial support system (zero interest loan)

⇒ Promote entrepreneurship by financing graduates agricultural projects  with a revolving fund

⇒ Build female student dormitory

⇒ Train the career center team

EXPECTED IMPACTS

 ⇒ Improving the quality and relevance of education

⇒ Strengthen the local employability of young people

⇒ Enable young people, women, and vulnerable populations to access training that meets the needs of the Ivorian job market.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more about:

I&P Education to Employment

ESSECT Poincaré

Founded in 2001, COFE CESA is a higher education institution providing continuing training in various fields (communication, finance, networks and telecoms, etc.) and initial training to professionals.

Willing to provide a quality education oriented towards professional integration for vulnerable youth, the group's 3 campuses are located in Koumassi, Yopougon and Plateau Attécoubé, all economically fragile areas of Abidjan.

With 99% of students benefiting from social inclusion measures such as government scholarships or internal scholarships ( tuition discounts granted by the school), the school intends to revolutionize its environment.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

A dedicated individual, Akoun Gossan has over 50 years of experience in the higher education sector. He held various positions in the University of Abidjan and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure libriaries between 1968 and 1976. Thereafter, he was appointed head of documentation and instructor at the Centre Ivoirien de Gestion des Entreprises from 1980 to 1991. He was appointed Secretary General of the Union Patronale des Fondateurs de l'Enseignement Supérieur Privé de Côte d'Ivoire in 2001. Then, in 2019, as a reward for his commitment, he was named Officer of the Order of Merit of National Education by the Ivorian government. In 2001, he founded the COFE CESA group, which he headed until 2014 before entrusting the management to his son, Jean-Michel Gossan.

A graduate of the Pigier group, Jean-Michel Gossan worked for 5 years in France, before returning to Côte d'Ivoire in 2012. He joined the administrative team of COFE CESA in 2015 as a relationship manager, and was appointed General Manager of the group in 2015.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to Université des Lagunes to:

⇒ Reinforce their digital readiness by acquiring modern equipment and a stable internet access;

⇒ Strengthen the educational offer with the creation of a language center

⇒ Train career center agents in job integration practices related to the needs of the local job market

⇒ Promote access to education for girls from rural areas by increasing the capacity of dormitories

EXPECTED IMPACTS

⇒ Strengthen the local employability of young people

⇒ Enable young people, women, and vulnerable populations to access training that meets the needs of the Ivorian job market.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more about

I&P Education to Employment

COFE CESA

TgMaster University is a new and innovative training offer in Côte d'Ivoire, proposed by TgMaster group, an Ivorian company created in 2013. Tg Master specializes in training students in relevant subject matter areas and supporting those wishing to access business school education in Europe through private tutoring, coaching, and mentoring services to enable them to take certified international tests in support of their applications. Since 2013, TgMaster has accompanied more than 700 young people and has inserted 300 young people in its partner schools in Côte d'Ivoire and abroad.

Building on its experience, this pioneering university welcomed its first students in October 2021 and offers courses in the field of digital and management, on-campus in Abidjan, and soon in delocalized branches throughout Côte d'Ivoire.

The university is supported by renowned academic partners, including business schools based in France (Media School Group and Audencia Business School).

TgMaster University aims to improve the employability of young people in Côte d'Ivoire by developing their skills and abilities and by anticipating the needs of tomorrow.

THE  ENTREPRENEURS

Born and raised in Ivory Coast, Achille KOUKOU, is a trained engineer . He graduated from the prestigious Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Yamoussoukro and from a French business school, EM Lyon. He has held various positions in France in financial companies such as Mazars, the Banque Postale, BNP Paribas...

Passionate about education and the issue of employability of African youth, Achille also launched and managed an incubator in Abidjan (5K Startups Hub), founded a training and insertion company for vulnerable youth (Actinobis), before devoting himself to the development of TgMaster University.

A telecom and network engineer from Ivory Coast, Léonce Ano is also a graduate of the prestigious Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Yamoussoukro and of the IESE Business School in Barcelona. He has various experiences in different countries : Spain, the United Kingdom, Kenya. He has a certain experience in the field of education, he held the position of secretary-general and teacher at the MDE Business School in Abidjan. He also contributed with Achille to the launch of 5K Startups Hub and Actinobis. Currently a Ph.D. student in Barcelona, he is preparing a thesis on artificial intelligence and business management and, simultaneously, plans his return to Côte d'Ivoire to take part in the university’s management.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment* program, I&P has committed to working alongside TgMaster University to :

⇒ Support the launch of the university, the training of its management, and the establishment of a quality learning environment

⇒ Support the university's digitalization strategy, through the construction of a blended learning program (face-to-face and distance learning)

⇒ Support the expansion of the university in the regions of Côte d'Ivoire through the installation of connection points in several cities

⇒ Support the establishment of a scholarship program, particularly targeting young women from disadvantaged backgrounds, and ensure sustainable funding

⇒ Etablish policies and practices to protect learners on campus

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Strengthen the attractiveness of the quality educational offer in Côte d'Ivoire, in partnership with international schools

⇒ Strengthen the local employability of young people and encourage the return to Côte d'Ivoire for students who have gone abroad.

⇒ Enable young people, women, and vulnerable populations to access training that meets the needs of the Ivorian job market.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation in its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a joint financing program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent.

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies will receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more about the project

https://univ.tgmaster.com/

Learn more about the I&P Education to Employment program

The Université des Lagunes is a private institution of higher learning located in Abidjan and founded in 2010 by the Centre International pour le Développement du Droit (CIDD), an Ivorian association made up of legal system members (magistrates, lawyers, notaries, etc.).

Initially composed of a faculty of law, the university diversified in 2014 with the opening of a faculty of economics, and in 2020 a faculty of mathematics.

UDL's ambition is to "serve Côte d'Ivoire and Africa by achieving high international standards in teaching and research. By cultivating personal and professional growth, UDL intends to train highly qualified professionals to become leaders in their respective fields."

The entrepreneur

Created in 1993 by Ivorian law professionals the Association Ivoirienne pour le Développement du Droit (CIDD) was created to promote the development of Ivorian legislation.

In 2008, the association became Centre International pour le Développement du Droit (CIDD) to reflect the range of activities, such as training and research. Later on, the Université des Lagunes was founded as link between African values and traditions and the universal values of the legal system to strengthen Ivorian and African law.

Partnership with I&P  

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to Université des Lagunes to:

        ⇒ Reinforce their digital readiness by training teachers and acquiring modern equipment and content;

        ⇒ Promote digitization by facilitating student's computer acquisition through a revolving fund;

        ⇒ Train the in charge of career service personnel to implement good practices in employability and graduate’s follow-up; 

        ⇒ Evaluate the alumni employability and strengthen the network;

        ⇒ Implement learner protection policies and practices on campus.

Expected impacts 

        ⇒ Improvement of the quality of training by strengthening the infrastructure and IT tools;

        ⇒ Improvement of the learning environment by strengthening the digitalization strategy;

        ⇒ Improvement of the graduate's employability by strengthening the activities and staffing of career services, in line with local labor market needs.

A company supported by the partnership between I&P and Mastercard Foundation 

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent.

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more about the I&P Education to Employment program I&P Education to  Employment

Université des Lagunes website