Université Pédagogique Nationale

The Université Pédagogique Nationale (meaning "National Pedagogical University"), formerly named the Institut Pédagogique National, colloquially referred to by its acronym UPN, is a public institution of higher education dedicated to training teachers, enhancing their skills, and promoting studies and research in applied pedagogy. Located in the Ngaliema commune of Kinshasa, the university is led by Professor Masanga Maponda Anastasie. Established in 1961, it is the first pedagogical university in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

History
The Institut Pédagogique National (IPN) was created by Ordinance No. 73 of September 22, 1961, to address the shortage of teachers caused by the departure of Belgian teachers during the Congo Crisis. The Congolese government recruited expatriate teachers with the help of UNESCO to train qualified teachers for secondary education. The institute opened its doors on October 8, 1961, and launched the Ecole Normale Moyenne Pilote (ENMP) for training science graduates for lower secondary education on October 25. On December 6, 1969, the IPN inaugurated its Ecole Normale Supérieure for training associates in sciences intended for upper secondary education. It later transforms into a bachelor's degree section to train graduates in applied pedagogy. Through Ordinance Law n°71-075 of August 6, 1971, the IPN became part of the National University of Zaire (Université nationale du Zaïre; UNAZA), encompassing university campuses and higher technical institutes.

From the reform that concluded the UNAZA era until the 2003–2004 academic year, the IPN was governed by Ordinance Law n°18-145 of October 3, 1981. By decree n°05/007 of February 23, 2005, the IPN became a public institution and was named the Université Pédagogique Nationale by then-President Joseph Kabila. It became the second public university in Kinshasa.

Rehabilitation
In April 2022, the Minister of Higher and University Education (Enseignement Supérieur et Universitaire; ESU), Muhindo Nzangi, announced the construction and rehabilitation initiatives at UPN. The project was initiated by President Félix Tshisekedi and assigned to a Congolese construction firm, with an expected completion timeline of three years. The primary objective of the modernization project was to address issues such as the shortage of lecture halls, dormitories, and administrative offices. According to the communication service of the presidency of the republic, this rehabilitation was part of a comprehensive program for the construction and rehabilitation of higher and university education establishments to enhance their competitiveness and compliance with international standards.

While under construction and rehabilitation, UPN inaugurated its digital library in March 2023 through a public-private partnership with the American company Astria Learning.

In April 2023, the rehabilitation of edifices accommodating student residences, the amphitheater designated for alleviating the strain on certain faculties grappling with excessive enrollments, and various other structures on the campus were nearing completion. According to the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, the overhaul of the student residences has been completed with renovations including plumbing, electrical systems, water supply infrastructure, bedding, ventilation systems, and the auditoriums designed to host up to 6,000 students have been declared fully operational.

In May 2023, Félix Tshisekedi presided over the inauguration of two newly constructed and renovated UPN homes. The first of these two six-story buildings, dedicated to housing male students, consisted 70 rooms distributed across six floors, while the second three-story building houses 50 rooms and includes a shared laundry facility. Both structures were furnished with complimentary WiFi connectivity. The subsequent phase included the renovation of the girls' residence and the construction of other new buildings, which were in progress. By November 2023, the structures had been redeveloped, incorporating additional green spaces, work areas, and rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technical and educational tools.

Organization and administration
The National Pedagogical University has an organic structure comprising official and faculty bodies:

Official bodies
The official bodies consist of the University Council, uniting deans, center directors, and members of the university's management committee, along with the Management Committee responsible for daily operations, led by the Rector and including key roles such as Academic Secretary General, Secretary General for Research, Administrative General Secretary, and Budget Administrator.

Faculty bodies
There are distinct administrative and teaching structures on the faculty level. Faculty Administration encompasses units focused on teaching, research, and administration, supported by components like the Faculty Council, Faculty Office, and Faculty Administration. The Decanal Office within each faculty is crucial, comprising the Dean, Vice-Dean for Teaching, Vice-Dean for Research, and Academic Secretary. Additionally, Departments within each faculty is led by a Head of Department and supported by secretaries responsible for Education and Research.

The organization of teachings involves course programs aligned with university regulations. Three cycles are implemented: the graduate cycle (license), the bachelor's cycle (Master's degree), and the Third Cycle (DEA-Doctorate). The license cycle, a three-year general education phase, includes a teaching or business internship and the completion of a dissertation or End of Cycle work. The bachelor's cycle, spanning two years, incorporates core courses, optional courses, seminars, a dissertation defense, and an internship in public and private administrations. The Third Cycle, offering DEA-Doctorate programs, has been in place at UPN since 2007.

Notable alumni

 * Juliette Mbambu Mughole
 * André Kimbuta
 * Richard Muyej
 * Zacharie Bababaswe