The 16th edition of the Human Resources University took place in San Pedro, Côte d'Ivoire, from October 29 to 30, 2026. Organized by the Association of Human Resources Professionals of Côte d'Ivoire (APRHCI) in collaboration with industry leaders, the event brought together participants from the public and private sectors, as well as humanitarian and development organizations. The theme of this edition was "Augmented Human Capital Management: How to Face New Challenges of Transformation and Compliance for Sustainable HR Performance?"
The event featured a conference, meetings with partners, and communications on various topics, including human resources management practices, organizational transformation, talent management strategies, and employee engagement. Participants also took part in workshops on well-being and health at work, HR data and analytics, and compliance and social performance. The goal was to equip human resources professionals with the skills needed to address new challenges in the sector.
Joseph Kassé, President of the Network of Human Resources Professionals in Humanitarian and Development (RRH-HUD), spoke on behalf of the industry leaders. He highlighted the stakes of the event, marked by digital transformation, the integration of artificial intelligence in human resources management, new employee expectations, and strengthened regulatory and compliance requirements. Kassé emphasized that augmenting human capital is not about replacing humans with machines, but rather about empowering humans to excel.
Sylla Alhouceine, President of APRHCI, stated that the event was a means for his organization to contribute to local development. The university provides a platform for human resources managers to exchange ideas and adapt to new challenges in their profession. Alhouceine justified the choice of San Pedro as the host city, citing its importance in the national economy, particularly due to the presence of the country's second-largest port.
The port of San Pedro is a significant economic hub, serving as the world's largest exporter of cocoa and hosting several industrial units and companies. The event's location was chosen to reflect the region's specific economic realities. Local authorities, including Koné Soumaïla, Deputy Prefect of San Pedro, attended the opening ceremony.
Soumaïla emphasized that human resources is the primary wealth of any society. In the face of modernization, he stressed that human resources professionals must adapt to remain relevant. He also highlighted the need for humans to remain at the center of reflections and for the chosen theme to contribute to improving company performance.
The 16th Human Resources University provided a valuable opportunity for professionals in the sector to share experiences, learn from each other, and develop strategies to address new challenges. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to prioritizing human capital and leveraging technology to enhance performance.
Key points
- The event focused on capacity building for human resources professionals in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The theme of the 16th edition was "Augmented Human Capital Management: How to Face New Challenges of Transformation and Compliance for Sustainable HR Performance?"
- The event was attended by participants from the public and private sectors, as well as humanitarian and development organizations.
