The Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (INP-HB) in Yamoussoukro has just reached a new milestone in its quest for academic excellence. According to the 2025 edition of the Top University Rank (TUR), the Ivorian institution has moved up nine places on the continental level, rising from 36th to 27th in Africa.
This leap shows positive momentum for this institution founded in the Ivorian political capital. INP-HB also confirms its position as the second-best French-speaking university on the continent, behind Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco, ranked 23rd in Africa.
“INP-HB stands out with an impressive score of 93.8 for student engagement,” notes the TUR report, which highlights the institution’s ability to create a stimulating intellectual and social environment where students are not simply passive recipients of knowledge.
A French-speaking breakthrough in a landscape dominated by English speakers
While English-speaking universities continue to dominate the top of the rankings, with the University of Johannesburg (South Africa) in first place, French-speaking institutions are gradually making their mark. Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco, closely followed by INP-HB, is a tangible example of this rise in prominence, even if their presence in the top tier remains modest.
Beyond the performance of INP-HB university, Côte d’Ivoire is strengthening its presence in the continental academic landscape with two other institutions entering the rankings : the National School of Statistics and Applied Economics (ENSEA) in Abidjan, ranked 114th, and the African School of ICT (ESATIC), which occupies 146th position.
A methodology that values local roots
The Top University Rank, produced by Research Analytics International, evaluates nearly 150 African institutions according to three fundamental criteria : teaching quality, scientific output, and societal impact.
Unlike other international rankings, the TUR places particular importance on often-neglected dimensions, such as universities’ contribution to their local environment and student engagement. It is precisely on this last point that INP-HB stands out with a score of 93.8, confirming its ability to train not only competent graduates, but also active citizens who are involved in the development of their community.
These results reinforce the emergence of Côte d’Ivoire as a center of academic excellence in West Africa, despite competition from the academic giants of South Africa and Egypt, which traditionally dominate continental rankings.