Albert Soudré holds a PhD on animal breeding and genetics from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences of Vienna (BOKU). In 2013 he joined the Norbert Zongo University (UNZ) in Burkina Faso as a lecturer in the Department of Life and Earth Sciences. He was promoted to Full Professor in July 2025 following the CAMES (African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education) evaluation session held in N'Djamena, where specialized technical committees reviewed 2,075 applications from the organization’s 19 member countries.
To become a Full Professor within the CAMES system, candidates must meet demanding requirements in teaching, research, doctoral supervision, and service to both the academic community and society. Applicants must have at least three years of seniority as a Senior Lecturer and demonstrate active engagement in teaching, including lectures, tutorials, and practical work, with a minimum of 250 teaching hours over the two years preceding the application.
In research, candidates must publish at least eight scientific articles in indexed journals and present four scientific communications. For his application, he published twelve articles and delivered six oral presentations. Candidates must also have successfully supervised at least two doctoral theses; he fulfilled this requirement and continues to supervise six additional PhD students.
Service to the academic community includes administrative responsibilities, organizing scientific events, fundraising, and active participation in institutional activities, while service to society involves professional contributions that benefit the broader community within the candidate’s field of expertise.
International collaboration
Albert is involved in several research and development initiatives in his country. His work focuses on conducting research that responds to local needs, particularly by addressing key challenges in areas such as agriculture and education. His objective is to generate practical solutions and evidence-based recommendations that contribute to sustainable development.
Albert was the national coordinator of the APPEAR partnership Local cattle breeds of Burkina Faso – characterization and sustainable utilization – LoCaBreed (2016-2021) and the advanced academic partnership Advancing local capacities for livestock breeding practice and research in Burkina Faso projects – LoCaBreed2.0 (2022-2026). These 2 projects brought together the BOKU and the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, 3 universities in Burkina Faso namely the Norbert Zongo University, the Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), the Université Nazi Boni, the Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo ; the NGO - INADES Formation Burkina and the former Centre de Multiplication des Animaux Performants.
The current project aims to design and implement community-based breeding programmes (CBBPs) for cattle and goat populations; enhance the participation of women and youth in these programmes; develop and deploy digital tools for animal performance recording and marketing; and identify genomic regions associated with key production and health traits. A distinctive feature of the project is the empowerment of LoCaBreed alumni to strengthen leadership capacity and promote a results-oriented culture.
This initiative is of significant importance to Burkina Faso, where livestock farming is a major source of income for rural households and a sub-sector that makes a substantial contribution to the national GDP.
In addition he is also a visiting lecturer at the Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, the Centre Universitaire de Gaoua/Université Nazi Boni and an associate researcher at INERA in Ouagadougou.
Reflection on his academic journey in Austria
Studying in Austria provided him with valuable opportunities for scientific collaboration and exchange with international partners, which strengthened his scientific culture and reinforced the rigor required in research. His stay in Vienna also enabled him to discover other cultures, cultivate humility, and gain greater confidence in his own abilities. On several occasions, he doubted his chances of success because of his limited proficiency in English and his own preconceived notions. However, the outcomes of most of his efforts proved positive. These experiences convinced him that it is essential to have the courage to try, to remain ambitious, and to persevere.
His studies in Austria significantly improved his approach to teaching as well as his relationships with students, trainees, and collaborators. He had the privilege of working within an excellent team led by Prof. Johann Sölkner at BOKU, while his PhD research was co-supervised by Dr. Simone Müller at the Veterinary Medicine University of Vienna. Both mentors supported him with remarkable simplicity and scientific rigor. Colleagues from both universities were welcoming and supportive, making him feel truly integrated into a team rather than simply part of a group.
Collaboration with Austrian partners has continued for more than fourteen years after the completion of his PhD studies in Vienna. The benefits of his stay in Austria continue to grow, and his entire country continues to benefit from them.
According to Albert the APPEAR programme is awonderful example of sustained capacity strengthening. It enabled him to build his scientific career well beyond his doctoral training. Indeed, more than 70% of his scientific output to date results from funding obtained for the two research projects mentioned above, as well as from collaborations that emerged from the research carried out within this framework.
"Merci à APPEAR (et OeAD) et aux universités autrichiennes"
