On May 19, 2026, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar organized the first edition of the Cooperation Day, an initiative aimed at promoting the international openness of the institution and strengthening academic partnerships.

The meeting was held in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps, technical and financial partners, as well as international students studying in Senegal. Through this initiative, UCAD aims to promote a new approach to university openness based on the concept of "internationalization at home."

According to the Director of Cooperation, Professor Abdoulaye Diouf, this initiative aims to offer students, teachers, and administrative staff an international experience without necessarily leaving campus. It thus complements traditional academic mobility programs.

"The aim is to allow the university community to develop an international experience without having to travel," explains Diouf, who emphasizes the importance of democratizing access to international opportunities.

The day also provided an opportunity to present the various ongoing projects and programs to community members. They were informed in particular about scholarship opportunities, academic mobility programs, and project funding.

The day also provided an opportunity to unveil UCAD's strategic cooperation policy plan. This document is intended as a steering tool to structure and strengthen the institution's international cooperation.

“We realized that there was no instrument to guide our cooperation policy. We needed to work with all components of the university in order to have this tool,” said Abdoulaye Diouf.

Regarding mobility, UCAD welcomed more than 66 students in 2025. At the same time, nearly 70 of its students benefited from mobility programs to other partner institutions.