Biaka University Institute has taken another major step in its internationalization drive with the signing of a strategic Cooperation Agreement with the Federal University of Pará (Universidade Federal do Pará – UFPA), one of Brazil’s leading federal universities, based in Belém, Pará. The landmark agreement brings together two institutions separated by the Atlantic Ocean but connected by shared academic interests, particularly in health, agriculture, biodiversity, technology, climate change and sustainable development.
The Cooperation Agreement was signed by Professor Dr. Gilmar Pereira da Silva, Rector of the Federal University of Pará, and Dr. Francisca Hongla Biaka, Promoter of Biaka University Institute. The signing ceremony was presided over and witnessed by the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education of Cameroon, and attended by representatives of the Brazilian and Cameroonian diplomatic missions. Their presence highlighted the broader significance of the agreement and its potential contribution to strengthening Cameroon–Brazil academic and institutional relations.
The agreement establishes a framework for academic, scientific, technological, cultural and professional cooperation between Biaka University Institute and UFPA, thus, a partnership built on knowlegde and innovation. At the heart of the partnership is a shared commitment to research and innovation, capacity building, institutional development, academic mobility, community engagement and sustainable development.
Through the partnership, the two institutions will explore opportunities for joint academic and research projects, student and staff exchanges, collaborative research, academic missions and technical visits. Other areas of cooperation will include curriculum development, quality assurance, digital and hybrid education, internships, joint research groups, centres of excellence and innovation hubs.
The agreement is therefore designed not merely as a formal institutional arrangement, but as a platform for practical collaboration that can generate new opportunities for students, academics and researchers.
The strategic collaboration covers a wide range of areas of mutual interest, including health sciences and hospital training; engineering, technology and applied sciences; artificial intelligence and digital transformation; agriculture and food security; climate change and biodiversity; entrepreneurship and management; education and social sciences; research and technology transfer; academic mobility; community development; and multilingual and intercultural cooperation.
Biaka and UFPA will also have opportunities to jointly pursue external funding, grants, scholarships, sponsorships and international support for collaborative projects and initiatives. Such opportunities could strengthen research capacity while providing students and academic staff with greater exposure to international networks, expertise and professional development.
Beyond the formal terms of the agreement, the partnership carries a powerful geographical symbolism. It creates an academic bridge connecting Biaka University Institute’s roots at the foot of Mount Cameroon with the Amazonian region of Pará and the city of Belém in Brazil. The two regions are home to remarkable biodiversity and face a number of shared challenges and opportunities. These include public health, tropical agriculture, food systems, biodiversity conservation, climate change, community resilience, digital innovation and sustainable development.
For Biaka University Institute Buea and Yaoundé, the signing represents an important milestone in its commitment to building meaningful international partnerships that translate into tangible opportunities for its academic community. The cooperation is expected to provide a foundation for increased student and staff mobility, collaborative research, academic and professional internships, capacity building, scientific publications, innovation and knowledge exchange between Cameroon and Brazil. The agreement is concluded for an initial period of five years, with provision for renewal or extension by mutual consent. Specific activities will subsequently be developed through dedicated agreements, protocols, work plans and programmes jointly agreed upon by the two institutions.
The partnership with UFPA further strengthens Biaka University Institute’s growing international outlook and reflects its vision of providing internationally connected education while expanding global opportunities for its students and staff. For the Biaka community, the signing is more than the conclusion of a formal agreement it marks the beginning of a new chapter of practical cooperation and reinforces the institution’s ambition to transform international partnerships into real academic, professional, research and innovation opportunities.