The Master’s Program in Oceanography and Applications in Benin : 10 Years of Training West and Central African Oceanographers

The regional Master’s program in Oceanography and Applications situated in Benin, West Africa is a joint operation between the French Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and the UNESCO International Chair in Physics and Applied Mathematics (CIPMA). Since 2008, our Master’s program has brought together students from all over West and Central Africa to study the physics, chemistry and biology of the ocean. It is the only formation on the African continent that specialises in physical oceanography and its applications. We cover a broad range of topics, from ocean circulation theory to the coastal environment. The program is hosted by CIPMA and is run by staff from the two host universities: Université d’Abomey Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, Bénin and Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France. Our instructors include professors from the two host universities, research staff from IRD and colleagues from Brazil and Germany. Over 100 successful students received their joint diploma from the universities of Cotonou and Toulouse. Almost 50 of them have gone on to doctoral research training in Africa, Europe, North and South America. The Master’s program is closely associated with an annual oceanography conference where students present their research project, and which triggers international research collaborations and regional coastal observing networks involving our alumni. Our ambition is to form the next generation of ocean scientists and to build capacity in local institutions and for research and applications in the civil, industrial and commercial sectors. We also aim to raise consciousness at all levels concerning the important environmental challenges presently facing the region and strongly influencing future growth and development. Our primary objectives are now to strengthen the links between the formation and employment opportunities in the region, increase the amount of teaching relevant to the needs of the region outside the academic sector, and to progressively transfer responsibility for the management of the program to African research and university staff including our alumni who now occupy permanent positions.