Promoting quality education through scholarships: a look back at the Erasmus+ Alumni & Global Gateway conference at UCAD

🌍 A Human Adventure, Driven by Purpose

Although I have had the honor of organizing several similar academic events, this project held a special place. From the initial drafting to the strategic planning and on-the-ground execution, it was an intense journey — marked at times by stress and uncertainty, but most of all by strong commitment and shared conviction.

Thanks to this spirit of collaboration, the project turned into an unforgettable success.

🤝 A Victory Made Possible by Strong Partnerships

This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our partners and collaborators. We extend our deepest gratitude to:

✅ The Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG ECEA) of the European Commission, for funding the initiative and placing their trust in us;

✅ The Delegation of the European Union to Senegal, notably represented by Ms. Harmonie Koutsivitis and Ms. Ilaria Marra, whose insights greatly enriched the exchanges;

✅ The Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD), which graciously hosted the event and contributed through the presence of esteemed scholars including

Prof. Moussa Sagna, Advisor on Strategic Partnerships and Cooperation,

Prof. Aboubacry KANE, Head of the Department of Plant Biology (and my Ph.D. supervisor),

Prof. Samba Ndao SYLLA, Director of CEA AGRISAN,

Dr Ablaye NGOM, delegate director of REFORM Project in Senegal

and Prof. Pape Ibnou Ndiaye, Coordinator of the Erasmus+ ICM Project.

🌐 Uniting African and European Alumni Networks

The conference was further elevated by the presence of Dr. Nelly Sakyi-Hagan, President of ASAF (African Students and Alumni Forum), and Ms. Leïla Benabdallah, President of the OCEANS Network. Their contributions brought added depth to discussions on youth leadership, education, and intercontinental collaboration.

A special highlight was the networking dinner held on April 17, the evening before the conference. It brought together members of the ASAF and OCEANS networks for informal exchanges — planting seeds of future collaboration and reinforcing the spirit of unity.

💡 A Momentum to Sustain

This initiative is part of a broader vision to strengthen Africa–EU academic cooperation and promote African higher education on the global stage. It succeeded in connecting institutional actors, scholars, and youth leaders around a shared goal: building a resilient, connected, and globally engaged Africa.

Our warmest thanks go to all participants, speakers, volunteers, academic and institutional partners who contributed to this collective success.

📌 Stay tuned — this is just the beginning of a long journey of shared impact and powerful synergies!

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