Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona is the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) at the African Union Commission, a position to which he was elected during the 47th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council in July 2025, and assumed office in October 2025. A Burundian national, distinguished academic, and education policy leader with over two decades of transformative experience, Prof. Banyankimbona has consistently championed education reform, scientific advancement, and regional integration across Africa.
Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, he served as the fifth Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), an institution of the East African Community, from April 2021. In this role, he led the implementation of the East African Common Higher Education Area and coordinated major donor-funded initiatives such as the World Bank’s Centers of Excellence, the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), and the KfW-funded EAC Scholarship Programme. He also pioneered strategic frameworks for research excellence, university–industry collaboration, and digital skills development.
Prof. Banyankimbona’s leadership extends across national, regional, and continental levels. He previously served as Minister of National Education and Scientific Research and, earlier, as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Burundi, as well as Permanent Secretary in the same ministry. He also held the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Burundi, where he revitalized research, established the current Doctoral School, and strengthened institutional partnerships.
A biologist by training, he holds a PhD in Sciences from KU Leuven (Belgium) and remains an Associate Professor at the University of Burundi. Fluent in English, French, Kiswahili, and Kirundi, he is a passionate advocate for STEM education, inclusive access to quality learning, technical and vocational training, and Africa’s digital and innovation-driven transformation.
Guided by the vision of Agenda 2063, Prof. Banyankimbona is committed to building a knowledge-based, integrated, and globally competitive Africa, where education, science, and innovation serve as engines of sustainable development, youth empowerment, and continental prosperity.
