The Franco-Algerian teaching and research network LaFEF, coordinated by Rennes 2 University, was recently revamped by a new intergovernmental agreement at the highest level, lasting 4 years and financed up to 260,000 euros annually (against 158,000 euros in the previous framework agreement).

The network, launched in 2011 by the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the French Embassy in Algeria, conducts research and actions in the fields of French-language literature, language didactics and linguistics in a French-speaking context. It brings together 53 French and Algerian research units. LaFEF’s stated missions continue the work began by the French-Algerian Doctoral School (EDAF), developed from 2004 to 2011. In the context of a declining number of French-speaking teachers in Algeria and Franco-Algerian research collaboration, EDAF became an important component of bilateral cooperation, supporting more than 1,500 degree-achieving students at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.

The objective of the network is to contribute to the training of teachers and researchers by favoring the development and co-supervision of theses; to accompany the publishing of doctoral students and the organization of scientific conferences and events; to accompany the process of scientific publication; to contribute to the scientific promotion of young researchers and teaching-researchers; to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from strides made in research to French departments of universities and Intensive Language Training Centers; to support the development of French language education in Algeria and to establish research programs on requests for proposals and scientific partnerships between Algerian and French research and education structures.

The framework agreement signed in 2018 contains new missions for the mixed network such as conducting a synthesis of research and a complementary study on the uses, representations and dynamics of the French language in Algeria. For the coming year, the LaFEF network is working on setting up a joint Master's program, ideally, dual degrees with one or more universities in Algeria. It also aims to strengthen the number of qualitative doctoral symposiums and seminars in both countries. Finally, it plans to develop high quality digital tools including the creation of a platform that will facilitate exchanges between students and members of the network.

Following the Scientific Committee meeting, Olivier David, President of Rennes 2 University, Lesley Lelourec, Vice President of International Relations and Philippe Blanchet, Teacher-Researcher and French Coordinator of the LaFEF Network, had dinner with Abdel Majid Draia, the Algerian Consul in Nantes, and all members of the network present in Rennes.

For more information about the network, please contact: Fatma Zohra Benfarhat, fatma-zohra.chouam [at] univ-rennes2.fr (fatma-zohra[dot]chouam[at]univ-rennes2[dot]fr)