Mediterranean Study Trip to Dakar 2026
Our students of the Master in Advanced European and International Studies - Mediterranean Studies were recently welcomed by our partner SupdeCo Dakar for an extended study trip in Dakar, Senegal. Thanks to our partner, the Med students received a very warm welcome and were able to follow various courses with SupdeCo’s own students - as a truly West African-European cooperation!
During their stay, our students had the opportunity to meet several economic and social stakeholders, NGOs and other representatives of the Senegalese civil society. At Consortium Jeunesse Senegal, Abdoul Wayne and Dieynaba Ba spoke to the students about projects to integrate young people who have faced difficulties into Senegalese society. In a country where over 50% of the population are under 19 and 30% of children do not attend school, education and integration into the world of work are key policy areas.
On a visit to the EU Civil Protection and Human Aid Office (ECHO), the students discovered the role of European humanitarian aid in West and Central Africa, as well as the complexities of operations on the ground, thanks to the Head of the Regional Office Thomas Deherman-Roy and Regional Information Officer Anouk Delafortrie.
Another particular highlight was the visit of the EU Delegation to Senegal and the discussion with the ambassador, Mr Jean-Marc Pisani. Following a presentation on the cooperation between the EU and Senegal, the students were able to address questions such as border stability, migration, the socio-political challenges facing Senegal and economic perspectives. Recent graduate of CIFE's Mediterranean programme, Charel Jans, now working as a Political Attaché at the EU Delegation to Senegal, also took the time to exchange with the students.
To fully experience and immerse themselves in the culture of the Sub-Saharan nation, our students also took part in a cultural excursion to the Ile de Gorée, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to commemorating what was once the most significant slave trading hub in Africa. They also visited the Musée des Civilisations Noires to learn about Africa’s contribution to the world’s cultural and scientific heritage, as well as the imposing African Renaissance Monument, which represents optimism after years of slavery and colonisation.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Yasmine Aboubacar Sedikhe Sy, Deputy Director General of SupdeCo Dakar, and her colleague Codou Sarr, Deputy Director of the Institute of Public Management, who both contributed to making this experience a memorable one!