Ministère l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique MESRS

What Ministère l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique MESRS does

The Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (MESRS) is the government ministry of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania responsible for higher education and scientific research policy. It exercises exclusive regulatory authority over 12 public higher education institutions — including the Université de Nouakchott, Université des Sciences Islamiques d'Aioun, the École Normale Supérieure, ISCAE, ISET, and the Nouakchott Business School — and coordinates with private establishments, overseeing a network of 46 educational institutions serving 45,384+ enrolled students and 43 research units. The ministry's mandate is grounded in the 2018-032 research and innovation law, the 2020-045 teacher-researcher statute, and the 2023-001 orientation law, and it is currently led by Minister Dr. Yacoub Ould Amin, who took office in August 2024.

MESRS operates a unified digital ecosystem comprising the E-Learning Platform (15,000+ online courses), the Student Space and Teacher Space portals, a Digital Library (10,000+ shared documents), and the ANRSI Research Portal — the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation — which manages a database of 1,000+ researchers, 150+ publications, 50+ research labs, and 500+ research projects. Additional operational entities include MACCES (student counseling), CNPU (national pedagogy center under development with French cooperation), and joint programs with CNASS for student health insurance. The ministry's reach extends internationally through active cooperation agreements with Algeria, China, France, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Korea, and Thailand.

As a public-sector entity, MESRS does not operate on a commercial revenue model; it is funded through the Mauritanian state budget with additional support from international cooperation partners. Its "go-to-market" is the mandatory accreditation, scholarship allocation, and digital service delivery pipeline to all domestic higher-education stakeholders, supplemented by outbound international cooperation programs and conferences. The ministry's strategic agenda is anchored in the national higher-education strategy through 2030, with active investment in pedagogical transformation, digital infrastructure, new institutional capacity, and pan-African academic networks such as RASED.

Name

Ministère l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique MESRS

Legal name

Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique - Mauritanie

Website

https://mesrs.gov.mr

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) is the government of Mauritania's statutory authority over higher education and scientific research, overseeing 12 public universities and institutes, 46 educational institutions, and 45,384+ students. It operates a digital ecosystem — E-Learning, ANRSI Research Portal, Student Space — and is funded through the national state budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education Governance

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• Higher education governance
• Scientific research administration
• University accreditation
• Scholarship programs
• Public education policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Nouakchott

HQ country

Mauritania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) governs and regulates higher education and scientific research in Mauritania. It oversees 12 public higher education institutions, manages scholarship programs, coordinates scientific research through the ANRSI agency, and operates digital platforms including an E-Learning Platform (15,000+ courses), Student Space, Teacher Space, Digital Library, and Research Portal serving 45,384+ students across 46 educational institutions. It also administers teacher training programs, the LMD educational system, and international partnerships for academic cooperation.

Product overview

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research operates a unified digital ecosystem comprising multiple interconnected platforms: the core E-Learning Platform for online courses (15,000+ courses), the Student Space and Teacher Space portals for academic services, the Digital Library for resources, and the ANRSI Research Portal for managing 500+ research projects with 1000+ researchers. A newly launched Digital Guidance Platform enables transparent scholarship allocation. These platforms serve 45,384 registered students across 46 educational institutions and 43 research units, supporting the ministry's national strategy for higher education through 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ANRSI - Agence Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique et de l'Innovation: National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, the engine of scientific innovation in Mauritania
• Student Space
• Teacher Space
• E-Learning Platform
• Digital Library
• MACCES
• CNPU - Centre National de Pédagogie Universitaire
• Rifi-Mauritania App

Products and services

• E-Learning Platform Online learning platform providing digital courses and educational resources for students and teachers in Mauritanian higher education institutions, with 15,000+ online courses available.
• Student Space Online services portal providing students with access to academic resources, enrollment information, and institutional services.
• Teacher Space Resources and tools portal for teachers including teaching materials, pedagogical guidance, and professional development resources.
• Digital Library Digital resources and publications repository providing access to academic literature, research publications, and educational materials with 10,000+ shared documents.
• ANRSI (National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation) National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation platform managing research projects, researchers database (1000+ researchers), publications (150+), and research labs (50+).
• Research Portal National portal for scientific research in Mauritania providing access to research projects, publications, laboratories, and research opportunities.
• MACCES (Center for Educational Support and Counseling) Center for Educational Support and Counseling providing guidance and support services for students in higher education.
• CNPU - National Center for University Pedagogy National Center for University Pedagogy for pedagogical transformation support, funded by French cooperation with 524,000 euros over two years, in partnership with University of Caen Normandie.
• Digital Guidance Platform Digital platform for student guidance and scholarship allocation with automated file processing based on clear and announced criteria, ensuring transparency, fairness, and equity in scholarship distribution.
• Aggregation Competition Preparation Center Center for preparing future teachers for the aggregation competition, with initial specialties in mathematics, physics, and chemistry to produce highly qualified aggregated teachers for engineering preparatory classes.
• Scientific Research Portal (ANRSI) Platform supporting National Research Program (open for applications), Mobility Scholarships, Collaborative Research, and Innovation & Transfer programs with statistics showing 150+ publications, 50+ research labs, and 1000+ researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,384+ students enrolled in 2024-2025 academic year
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNASS (Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie) - National Health Solidarity FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement between National Center for University Services and CNASS to provide effective and comprehensive health insurance for students and contract workers. This cooperation ensures student access to health insurance through the fund created under the Presidential program.
• Yellow River Delta Academy for Research and Industry of Smart Agricultural Machinery and Equipment (China)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement covering training in agricultural science and engineering, exchange of professors, technician training in the field, and supervision of master's and doctoral research. Signed in Beijing with participation of ministry officials.
• Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting to discuss preparations for an international conference on artificial intelligence to be hosted by Mauritania. Delegation from ministry met with AASTMT President in Alexandria.
• Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of AlgeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned 2025-2026-2027 executive program for joint cooperation agreement covering university mobility for students and researchers, training at master's and doctorate levels, medical specialties, and access to digital information platforms and manuscript archives.
• French Cooperation and University of Caen NormandiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding of 524,000 euros over two years for University Pedagogy Center project. University of Caen Normandie provides expertise and technical support for developing the center to achieve international academic standards in teaching and learning quality.
• Kingdom of Spain (through Spanish Ambassador)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting to discuss cooperation between the two countries in higher education and scientific research. Spanish side represented by Ambassador and Cervantes Institute director.
• Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in organizing first edition of consultation days on higher education and scientific research. AUF mobilized international experts from Canada, Egypt, France, Senegal, and Tunisia to support Mauritania's reform of higher education system.
• Multinational School of Veterinary Science and Medicine in DakarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMauritanian Minister attended official annual opening and met with Mauritanian students at the school. Discussed areas of cooperation between the school and Mauritanian higher education institutions.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for establishing mock educational courtroom at Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences, University of Nouakchott. Supported by UN Peacebuilding Fund to strengthen rule of law and link university training to judicial practice.
• African Network for Educational Sciences (RASED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtocol agreement establishing African Network for Educational Sciences bringing together Higher School of Education in Nouakchott, Faculty of Education at Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), and Faculty of Education Sciences at Mohammed V University (Morocco).
• CIMPA (International Centre for Pure and Applied Mathematics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIMPA Nouakchott 2026 school on mathematical modeling of fluid flows and pollutant transport. Funded by Germany, Spain, Italy, and Norway with French government partnership. Includes participation of international professors from France, Germany, and Morocco.
• University of Caen Normandy, CEMU, and French Embassy SCACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizers of international conference on pedagogical and digital transformation in higher education (November 2026). Part of CNPU project supported by French Embassy through Équipe France Funds.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur (Senegal): Regional peer and partner of MESRS through the Multinational School of Veterinary Science and the African Network for Educational Sciences (RASED). Shares francophone higher-education governance and student mobility frameworks.
• Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (Tunisia): North African peer ministry with the same policy scope (higher education + scientific research) and comparable LMD-system implementation, providing a structural benchmark for MESRS's institutional reforms.
• Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (Algeria): Algerian counterpart with identical mandate and ministerial name. Shares francophone higher-education governance model and signed a 2025-2027 cooperation executive program with MESRS, indicating direct peer-level collaboration on student/researcher mobility.
• Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur (Morocco): Regional North African higher-education ministry with scholarship and research-cooperation agreements with Mauritania. Operates a comparable LMD-system reform and oversees a similar portfolio of public universities.

Others

• African Union - Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation: Continental policy body setting higher-education and research agendas across Africa. MESRS's chairing of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development positions it as a stakeholder in AU-coordinated initiatives.
• UNESCO: Multilateral partner funding scholarships in partnership with MESRS and supporting Mauritanian higher-education initiatives. Serves as an enabling/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (France): Larger, more established counterpart ministry providing capacity-building support to MESRS (e.g., University of Caen partnership, Équipe France Funds). Represents a benchmark operating model and a critical funding/cooperation partner.
• Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF): International francophone higher-education network that co-organized consultation days on higher-education reform with MESRS. Functions as a broader umbrella organization for francophone academic cooperation across 100+ institutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mesrs_mr
• Facebookfacebook.com/mesrs.mr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mesrs-gov-mr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mesrs-mr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministère l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique MESRS