Mediterranean Study Trip to Dakar and Banjul 2025
Our students of the Master in Advanced European and International Studies - Mediterranean Studies were recently welcomed by our partner SupdeCo Dakar for a four-week study trip - three weeks in Dakar, Senegal and one week in Banjul, The Gambia. 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 Senegalese-Gambian-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, they learnt about projects to integrate young people who have faced difficulties into Senegalese society.
On their visit to Bioforce Afrique, the students discovered more about how people are trained to work in the humanitarian sector, in particular in hazardous areas.
Another particular highlight was the visit of the EU Delegation to Senegal and the discussion with the ambassador, Mr Jean-Marc Pisani. The students were able to address some of key development issues, including food, agriculture and new technologies, as well as the cooperation between the EU and Senegal. The communications team also presented the workings of the EU delegation, social media work and the importance of communicating with the local population.
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.
The students completed their trip with a week in Banjul, The Gambia, an English-speaking country in West Africa, where they were once more welcomed by the Gambian representation of SupdeCo. They had the opportunity to meet the EU Ambassador to The Gambia, Ms Imma Roca i Cortés, as well as representatives at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The study trip was brought to a close with a visit to the Gambian National Assembly.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Yasmine Sabri and her fabulous colleagues including Codou Sarr in Dakar, as well as Abdou Faye in Banjul, who all contributed to making this experience a memorable one!