The Conference of Heads of University Institutions held on November 8, 2013 in Yaounde.

The 2013-2014 academic year has taken off in all the eight State universities after a successful 2012-2013 year. Apart from the awaited results of competitive entrance examinations into some professional schools, serenity now reigns in spite of financial challenges.

This view was shared by Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and University dons meeting at the Conference of Heads of University Institutions (CHUI) that held in the University of Yaounde on Friday, November 8, 2013. Presided at by CHUI's President and Rector of the University of Ngaoundere, Prof Paul Henri Amvam Zollo, the University dons assessed challenges faced throughout the previous academic year and which are yet unresolved.

These include the insufficiency of State subventions, the stagnancy of the university budget despite growth in enrolment and expenses, late publication of entrance examination results and the payment of Head of State's Excellence Prizes. Others are the holding of budget board meetings before January, the burden of increased salaries for support staff as well as the growing threats from staff hired under "Special Recruitment of 25,000 into Public Service" who are demanding equal treatment. The dons resolved to set up a commission to assemble the problems and propose solutions to the authorities.

Concerning budget challenges, the dons were briefed on some of the causes by Finance Ministry's Secretary General, Dr. Urbain Noel Ebang Mve, in a presentation of the new programme budget. The guest speaker used the opportunity to identify universities' shortcomings such as the low rate of consumption of the public investment budget, poor forecasts of revenue and subventions, poor management of revenue from university tuition fees as well as the absence of income-generating activities.

While stating the socio-economic and political context that prompted the State's low financial potency, he emphasised that universities must be creative in generating income. "Increase the number of postgraduate courses which generate much revenue," he advised, as example.

At the end of the conference, Prof Amvam Zollo expressed satisfaction with the discussions and expressed the wish to see the pursuit of professionalisation and preparations for the forthcoming university games.