This six-year programme aims to strengthen research and teaching capacities in entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of Bukavu (UCBukavu) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project notably includes the completion of three doctoral theses, aimed at training future professors at UCBukavu. The research will focus on key themes for the region’s economic and social development:
- family dynamics,
- culture and religion,
- women’s entrepreneurship.
In this context, ICHEC will coordinate the project on behalf of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and will take part in doctoral juries as well as in the associated scientific publications.
Strengthened academic collaboration
The PMEF Kivu project also includes several cooperation initiatives between ICHEC and UCBukavu, including:
- hosting 4 to 5 professors from UCBukavu at ICHEC in 2027–2028 for a two-month research stay;
- developing joint scientific publications on entrepreneurship in the Kivu region;
- creating a Centre of Expertise and Skills in Entrepreneurship at UCBukavu, building on the PME-Start UCBukavu project.
The project is expected to begin in September 2026. PhD candidates and members of the Congolese team will also have the opportunity to participate in the International Francophone Conference on Entrepreneurship and SMEs (CIFEPME), which will take place at ICHEC in 2026.
More information about the conference: https://cifepme2026.sciencesconf.org/
A first for a Haute École
PMEF Kivu marks an important milestone: it is the first time that an ARES Research for Development Project is led in the North by a Haute École.
The project builds on the academic cooperation developed with UCBukavu in recent years, notably thanks to the work of Pierre Grega, the collaboration with Professor Eddy Balemba, and the involvement of Anaïs Angelucci.