Association of Colleges and Universities of the Canadian Francophonie (known by the acronym ACUFC for its French name, "Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne") promotes community college and university education in minority francophone communities in Canada, through cooperation between its member institutions. In the community it serves, each member institution plays a crucial role in cultural, social and economic development. The Association represents its member institutions on topics of mutual interest before the Government of Canada, national and international organizations. Up until 1 April 2015, the organisation was known as the Association of Universities of the Canadian Francophonie, or in French, Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne (AUFC), when it did not include community college members.
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Members
The association is made up of the following 20 institutions which promote community college and university education within minority francophone communities in Canada:
Most of these institutions were founded by members of the Catholic clergy to serve isolated Francophone communities. While some institutions maintain religious missions, others have assumed specialized vocations such as the Royal Military College of Canada.
While some member institutions only offer study programs in French, others are bilingual (English/French). Some of the institutions are located in small Francophone communities while others are located in heavily populated Francophone areas.
The Collège de Technologie forestière des Maritimes and the Collège nordique francophone are not members of the Association.
The office of the association is located at: 260, rue Dalhousie, bureau 400 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E4
Canadian Francophonie Scholarships Program
The AUCC has been the executing agency of the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program (CFSP) since July 1, 2006. The Government of Canada funds the CFSP program in its entirety. CFSP is a scholarship program which builds institutional capacities by training nationals of 37 developing countries of La Francophonie. The program is administered by the Canadian Partnership Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
National exchange program
The AUFC promotes student exchanges for undergraduate, Masters and doctoral students among member institutions.
AUFC Action Plan
AUFC's action plan for 2007–2012 focuses on supporting its research community and the internationalization of member institutions. The AUFC wants to play a connecting role between Official Language Minority Community (OLMC) researchers and the federal funding agencies.
The action plan also aims to attract more students and increase the diversity of the student body.
AUFC Research
A 2005 AUFC study evaluated the state of technological infrastructure within Canada's francophone universities and recommended on its future directions.
AUFC Partners
AUFC partners include the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS), French Language Health Services Network of Eastern Ontario, Consortium des universités de la francophonie ontarienne (CUFO), and Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF).