🏛️ Introduction
On October 6, 2025, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo inaugurated the new campus building of the Université Officielle de Mbuji-Mayi (UOM) — a true architectural gem that rivals the finest universities in the world.
Yet, beyond the beauty of glass and concrete lies a deeper mission: building a university of global knowledge.
Today, I put forward a bold and forward-looking proposal: that UOM become the first bilingual university (French-English) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A university that speaks to the world while remaining deeply rooted in Congolese culture.
Why Bilingual Education Is the Future of Congolese Academia
Francophone Africa stands at a crossroads. Science, technology, business, diplomacy, and even higher education increasingly operate in English.
To remain monolingual is to risk intellectual isolation.
1️⃣ English — the global language of research
Over 90 percent of all international scientific publications are written in English.
By enabling professors and students to study, debate, and publish in English, UOM will open a gateway to vast reservoirs of global knowledge.
2️⃣ A decisive employability advantage
International companies, NGOs, and multilateral institutions seek bilingual professionals.
Graduates fluent in both French and English will enjoy unprecedented access to global career opportunities — in technology, finance, diplomacy, and academia.
3️⃣ A showcase of Congolese excellence
An English-speaking university in the heart of the Kasaï region will send a strong message to the world:
The Congo is no longer on the margins of academic modernity.
It embodies President Tshisekedi’s call that “The Congo must stop being a land of potential and become a land of performance.”
🎓 UOM’s Strategic Vision: A Leader of African Higher Education
Transforming UOM into a bilingual university is not a cosmetic change — it is a structural transformation built on five strategic pillars:
Global visibility
By introducing English-language programs and bilingual publications, UOM will join international academic networks, collaborative research projects, and university rankings.
Economic and diplomatic integration
The DRC borders several English-speaking countries — Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa.
A bilingual UOM will strengthen cross-border cooperation, attract regional students, and establish joint degree programs with neighboring universities.
Pedagogical modernization
Bilingualism goes beyond language; it is a teaching philosophy.
By incorporating English-language resources, MOOCs, and open-access databases, UOM will modernize its curriculum and teaching practices.
Faculty empowerment
Training professors in academic English will encourage publication in international journals and boost the university’s research reputation.
Student transformation
UOM students fluent in English will compete globally — not as spectators, but as active contributors to knowledge creation and innovation.
📘 A Practical Roadmap for Implementing Bilingual Education
Creating a bilingual university requires a structured, gradual, and inclusive approach.
Step 1 – Establish a Bilingual Transition Committee
Composed of faculty, linguists, students, and administrative leaders, this committee will coordinate the implementation strategy and timelines.
Step 2 – Conduct a Linguistic Audit
Assess the current English proficiency levels of students and staff to develop a realistic capacity-building plan.
Step 3 – Pilot English-medium programs
Launch pilot courses in high-potential faculties (e.g., computer science, economics, environmental sciences, engineering) during 2026.
Step 4 – Create a Language and Translation Center
This center will serve as UOM’s linguistic hub — providing academic English training, translation support, TOEFL/IELTS certification, and continuous mentoring.
Step 5 – Forge strategic partnerships
Build collaborations with leading English-speaking universities such as the University of Pretoria, the University of Nairobi, and the University of Ghana for faculty exchanges and joint research.
Step 6 – Communicate and mobilize
Launch a national campaign titled “UOM BILINGUAL – English for Excellence”, with media outreach, student ambassadors, and strong visibility across social networks.
Tangible Benefits for Students and for the Nation
🔹 A globally-minded generation
Students trained in both French and English will be able to participate in research projects, international conferences, and global competitions.
🔹 Global career opportunities
Bilingual graduates can easily access jobs in the UN, World Bank, African Union, major multinationals, and global universities.
🔹 A richer academic culture
English access unlocks the world’s top educational platforms — MIT OpenCourseWare, Harvard Online, Coursera — turning Mbuji-Mayi into a hub of intellectual exchange.
🔹 A new symbol of national pride
UOM will become the Congolese model for higher-education reform, inspiring other universities to follow.
📊 Implementation Timeline
| Year | Key Objective | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–2026 | Establish bilingual committee and audit | Clear roadmap and baseline |
| 2026–2027 | Launch pilot English programs | First bilingual cohorts |
| 2028–2029 | Expand to additional faculties | 40 % of courses taught in English |
| 2030–2032 | Full bilingual consolidation | UOM ranked among Central Africa’s top 10 universities |
🧭 Challenges to Overcome
⚠️ Cultural resistance
Some may fear that French could lose its prominence.
➡ Solution: Promote complementarity — bilingualism does not replace identity, it broadens it.
⚠️ Financial constraints
➡ Solution: Secure support from English-speaking embassies and donors (British Council, USAID, African Development Bank).
⚠️ Limited English proficiency
➡ Solution: Require preparatory English courses for first-year students, supported by scholarships and online training.
⚠️ Faculty workload
➡ Solution: Introduce language-training stipends, sabbatical immersions, and recognition in career advancement criteria.
The Strategic Role of Eyano Publications
To sustain such a transformation, UOM needs a strong intellectual dissemination partner.
This is where Eyano Publications becomes essential — a Pan-African publishing platform dedicated to research, innovation, and educational transformation.
Through Eyano, UOM can:
- Publish bilingual academic journals (UOM Global Review);
- Provide international exposure to Congolese researchers;
- Train students in bilingual academic writing;
- Position the DRC as an exporter of knowledge, not only resources.
Concrete Recommendations for UOM Leadership
Officially include bilingualism in the 2025–2030 strategic plan.
Create a Department of Academic English under the Rectorate.
Launch a UOM–Eyano Language Fund supported by alumni and partners.
Host an annual International Conference on English for African Excellence.
Publish UOM research through www.eyanoexpress.com to ensure global visibility.
🌐 Long-Term Vision: From Mbuji-Mayi to the World
Picture a student from the Kasaï defending his thesis in English before an international jury.
Picture UOM professors publishing in journals at Harvard, Cambridge, or Oxford.
Picture African students from Zambia, Ghana, and Kenya enrolling at UOM because of its unique bilingual excellence.
This is not utopia — it is entirely achievable.
And it begins here, now, in Mbuji-Mayi.
🕊️ Conclusion: The Congo Enters the Era of Global Knowledge
President Tshisekedi has laid the foundation of infrastructure; now, let us lay the foundation of intellectual sovereignty.
Making UOM a bilingual university is not only an educational reform — it is a declaration of purpose:
that Congolese knowledge will speak to the world in every language of excellence.
UOM can become the lighthouse of bilingual African academia, shaping generations of thinkers, scientists, and leaders able to act locally and shine globally.
The revolution of knowledge begins here.
Eyano Publications will be its voice.
✍️
Augustin Kazadi-Cilumbayi
President & Chief Executive Officer – Eyano Publishing
📧 contact@eyanoexpress.com
📞 US/Canada: +1 800 955 0153 | International: +1 613 882 0555
🌐 www.eyanoexpress.com
