Dear Colleagues,

USF is an association of academics, current or retired, with strong international experience, mobilizing their skills and their network (more than 10,000 colleagues) to support the development of higher education and research institutions that show the need, particularly in Africa and Central America. For example, at the moment, we are helping to set up professional bachelor’s degrees in dietetics, environmental sciences and pollution treatment, and on the other hand, in the training of doctoral students. Upon receipt of a project related to an identified need, a colleague in charge of the specific follow-up of this file is appointed.

In this issue of the newsletter, you will find several articles. The first will be the report of a meeting with the Academy of Sciences of Guinea with which collaborations are envisaged. Similarly, following a visit to the University of Fez in Morocco, prospects are glimpsed, particularly for the development of university research.

As generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI) is shaking up the habits and customs of higher education and research, it seems important to us to launch a debate on such a subject with unsuspected consequences, important hopes and inevitable pitfalls.

Moreover, because of policies led by Donald Trump, are we going towards a brain drain from the United States? The French government has asked research institutions to consider how they can accommodate scientists who are soon leaving the US. What will be the consequences for universities? No doubt other countries could make similar decisions.

Wishing good reading.