Companies, join PIMEF, the new global network for young French-speaking talent
The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) invites socio-economic stakeholders to join the business network of its International Francophone Mobility and Employability Program (PIMEF).
Backed by the ministers responsible for higher education in French-speaking countries, PIMEF positions international mobility as a strategic tool for professional integration. To roll out its 2026–2027 pilot phase, the AUF is issuing a call for expressions of interest to the business community. Its goal: to build a network of partner companies and a centralized database of internship opportunities to host young international talent at the Master’s (Bac+5) and Ph.D. (Bac+8) levels.
Companies can express their interest now! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Why join the PIMEF partner network?
Joining the PIMEF corporate network offers unique opportunities for your company:
Academic collaboration: Actively participate in a sustainable partnership between academia and the business world.
Access to a pool of top talent: Recruit highly qualified candidates (Master’s, Engineering, Ph.D.) selected by an international jury.
Enhance your employer brand: Benefit from increased visibility across the entire French-speaking academic community.
Supported internships: The AUF provides the primary funding (mobility, transportation, and housing allowances, as well as international insurance coverage).
Who can respond to the call for expressions of interest?
The call is open to public and private companies, international organizations, and institutional networks that are members of the AUF. Organizations based in the Global South are particularly encouraged to apply.
In fact, the program prioritizes two types of mobility flows:
- North-South mobility: Mobility from a higher education and research institution in a “Northern” country to a company in a “Southern” country.
- South-South mobility: Mobility between organizations both located in the “South.”
Organizations based in “Southern” countries are therefore especially encouraged to submit their offers.
How can you contribute to the internship database and support the program?
- Submitting internship offers: Each partner company commits to offering one or more internships (lasting 1 to 3 months) suitable for Master’s and Ph.D. students, and to assigning a dedicated mentor.
- Promoting Co-Funding: Although not mandatory, voluntary co-funding by the company (in cash or in-kind benefits such as housing or meals) is strongly encouraged. Applications that include co-funding will be viewed favorably by the selection committee when awarding mobility grants.
How are applications reviewed?
Each company-student pair submits its application to an independent, French-speaking international review panel composed of representatives from the scientific and professional communities.
Every company that joins the PIMEF network commits to this by signing an ethics charter.
Timeline
- Mid-November 2026: First round of review of company applications to populate the internship database.
- December 2026–January 2027: Opening of the internship database and student applications.
- January 2027: Evaluation by the international jury and signing of the ethical charters.
- February–August 2027: Actual deployment of international internship placements.
How to participate?
Expressions of interest and submission of proposals are made directly online via the dedicated platform.
Find all the terms and conditions of the call for expressions of interest.
Review the presentation note for the professional component.
Have a question?
For any questions regarding partnership terms or eligibility criteria, contact the program coordinators at: pimef@auf.org.
Source: www.auf.org/
