Cheikh Anta Diop University
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Cheikh Anta Diop University (French: Université Cheikh Anta Diop or UCAD) also known as the University of Dakar is a major university in Dakar, capital of the West African country Senegal. It is named after the noted Senegalese historian and anthropologist Cheikh Anta Diop.
The university is named after one of Senegal's most important scholars, Cheikh Anta Diop. He was an African Egyptologist who argued that Ancient Egyptians were more closely related to Subsaharan Africans than they were to Caucasians in West Asia. His achievements in re-establishing Egypt's relationship with Africa, along with a multitude of intellectual interests, make him an important intellectual figure for people of African descent. Cheikh Anta Diop was born in the town of Diourbel, in Senegal, on the West coast of Africa in 1923 and then moved to die quietly in sleep in Dakar, Senegal on February 7, 1986. To show appreciation and give attention to his famous life and work, the Senegalese government decided to name the University of Medicine after him.
At Cheikh Anta Diop University there is a large representation of various ethnicities. People from Senegal, Burkina-Faso, Ivory Coast, French, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, USA, Mauritania, Mali, Rwanda, Cameroon, Belgian, and England, and more attend the university.
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[edit] Community
The University include Huminaties, Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Biology, Finance, Accounting, Literature, Law etc …Cheikh Anta Diop Unniversity awards the following degrees: BA, BS, PhD, DMA,… The student body numbers more than 40,000, divided into several faculties--Law, Letters (humanities), Medicine, etc. At Cheikh Anta Diop University many faculties, there are departments and institutes divided in many parts; as a result we find Faculties of letters and human sciences, Faculties of Sciences juristic and techniques, Faculties of Medicine. Also some Departments are divided in many parts; so we find two parts of Departments: Language department where you can find Philosophy Department, Sociology Department, English, Letter, Spanish, Russia, Arabic, History, Geography Departments…; and Medicine Department where you can find Pharmacy Department, Medicine Department, and Laboratory Department; and two institutes directed by a director as the institute of Sciences of the environment (I.S.E.) and the Institute of Sciences of earth (I.S.E.) So we find two parts of Departments: Language department divided as below:
- Philosophy: Mr. Ousseynou Kane
- Sociology: Mr. Moustapha Tamba
- History: Mr. Ibrahima Thioub
- Geography: Mr. Diene Dione
- Letters: Mrs. Mame Sow Diouf
- Arabic: Mr. Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Diallo
- Russia: Mr. Cheikh Sougou Fara
- Languages and Civilizations: Mr. Mamadou Ndiaye
- English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italia, Roman: Mamadou Gaye
- Allemand : Daha Deme
- Linguistique : Mamadou Ndiaye
The second part of the department is the department of Medicine, where we can find the pharmacy department, laboratory department and chirurgic department.[1]
The University8 of Cheikh Anta Diop is huge ot only because of the size but also by its brand name associated with the quality of the studies students receive there.
[edit] Situation of the Country
But most importantly, it is the stability of the country in which the university is located that make people trust in this University. Cheikh Anta Diop University is located in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa country. Senegal is a peaceful country where everybody can live without constraint. Democracy makes the country stable and easy to live.
[edit] Different Degrees
Cheikh Anta Diop University has trained many successful students that stood out for the university outstanding good quality of education. The different degrees offered by Cheikh Anta Diop University are world wide recognized and therefore opens the door to lots of job opportunities.
[edit] Integration
Since there are many nationalities there, it became like a mix between the nations. Can you study at Cheikh Anta Diop if you are foreigners? Yes, as Mr. the rechercher West African Center told us, beside the ordinary courses that could also be available at other Universities, Cheikh Anta Diop is the best place for the foreigners to study. The University has a strong emphasis on local (African) studies, with an open range of courses available in African literature, history, politics, philosophy, and sociology. There is a division of the University that offers courses for foreign students; most of the students in these courses are from other African and European countries. Many of these courses focus on Senegalese or African topics, and they are a good way of learning more about the region and allow you to know very well the country and the politic. The educational system follows the French pattern, with final exams (oral and/or written) given at the end of the year All courses at the university are taught in French (except those in language departments).
[edit] Criteria to study at Cheikh Anta Diop University
1. Must have your bac degree 2. Senegalese students 3. foreigners students
[edit] Academic
Cheikh Anta Diop University has a strong system based on African study among the courses that students have taken in previous years are:
- Oral Literature of Africa
- African-American Leadership from 1895 to Present
- African Civilization
- African Economics
- African Literature in French
- African Philosophy
- Comparative Literature
- The Beginnings of the Poetry of the Negritude Movement
- French Language and Literature
- French Grammar
- Economics of Development
- Social Stratification of African Society
- The Unity of Traditional African Religions
- Social Psychology
- Introduction to Oualof
Note that courses at the IFE (and, of course, the special topics courses and Wolof courses) generally continue to meet even when the University is closed. The Institute of Francais pour Etudiants Etrangers (IFE) is a part of the UCAD University system that specializes in the teaching of French language and the literature and culture of French-speaking (Francophone) countries. Courses at IFE are available based on your command of the French language. You will be tested to determine your French level and based on your individual level, will attend classes of your choice. All classes are taught in French. You are encouraged to continue French language instruction throughout the semester, along with courses in Francophone culture, Francophone literature, and Wolof, the prominent local language. Also, you may chose from a variety of courses such as: Intermediate and advanced levels of French language (grammar, composition, phonetics) through the “Institut de Francais pour Etudiants Etrangers” (through IFE) Introductory Wolof: This course is required of all participants and will focus on basic conversational Wolof. The essential vocabulary, grammar and structure of Wolof will be presented and the emphasis will be on communication. Topics in Contemporary Senegalese History, Culture and Society: Professors from the University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) will teach this course, which will focus on the recent history of West Africa and Senegal, in particular and the changes that have occurred in West African societies in response to globalization, development, and political and economic challenges. Included will be topics such as: "Senegal: Social dynamics and the caste system", "Islam in Contemporary Senegal", "The African Traditional Religion and Christianity", "Women and Women Issues in Senegal", "African languages", "The Transfer of Cultures from West Africa to the American South", “Conflict Management and Resolution in Africa", "Senegalese Diplomacy in the era of the African Union and the NEPAD (New Partnership for the African development)", and "Senegal and the Global Economy".
Francophone African Literature: Students will be introduced to major Francophone writers through the analysis of selected literary texts. Students and professors will discuss literary trends, cultural contexts and current issues as they are presented in the literature. Included will be topics such as Senegalese Colonial literature; Senghor's work; Senegalese literature in the 60's; Les Bouts de Bois de Dieu by Ousmane Sembene (social novel); poetry and tales; and new trends in African Literature. Students with sufficient language ability in French may enroll in a wide variety of courses in the social sciences and humanities such as Arabic, other African languages, Islamic studies, Sociology, Philosophy, History, or Geography through the Faculty of Letters and humans Sciences at UCAD. Senegalese instructors will teach all courses in French. Due to the possibility of course interruptions, it is recommended that students take no more than one UCAD course. The transcripts will be issued directly from University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD). Therefore, participants must ensure that their home institution will accept credits from UCAD in order to receive transfer credit upon completion of the program. Students will be required to enroll in a minimum of twelve (12) semester credits consisting of four core courses, plus one optional UCAD course. Students may also participate in initiatives carried out by Senegalese students such as reforestation projects and medical initiatives. By working with Senegalese students in organizing and carrying out these projects, participants will gain hands-on experience with problems, and potential solutions, in Africa. These projects, as well as volunteer work or internships, may fulfill an optional service-learning element of the program. Students with advanced French skills and some knowledge of Wolof may conduct independent research projects substitute for course work. Arrangements for such activities will be done on a case-by-case basis.[2]
[edit] Campus
Program students live either in the university comfortable single and double rooms, or five-bedroom house and or adjacent apartment located near the University (approximately a 20 minute walk, or five to ten minutes by car rapide). The house is also located within walking distance of the Baobab Center, where program participants receive instruction in Wolof and cross-cultural orientation. Students are responsible for their own meals, and may cook for themselves, or choose to eat in one of the numerous restaurants in the city of Dakar, or also hire a local Senegalese to cook certain meals for them (a common practice in Dakar). Program students may request a "Friendship Family," in which each student is coordinated with a local family that will invite her/his at home for a meal or another family activity on a regular basis. This interaction with a Senegalese family offers students with important details of the Senegalese life and culture, while enabling them to maintain a more independent living arrangement. For the foreigners another option is to live on-campus, an option for the boys, and for the females at Claudel city where Senegalese students live, not too far from school; it is located at 5 min of walk and look like any other student dormitory with three meals per day.
[edit] Schedule
It is very important that full year program participants plan to arrive in Dakar by mid-October for orientation and their first Wolof lessons; UCAD classes ordinarily begin early in November, and run until the end of May or June; Short breaks are scheduled in December and in the spring (usually early April). The spring program runs from early January to May or June. Program Coordinator in Dakar is Prof. Ousmane Sène, who teaches in the Department of English at the University and has extensive experience with the US educational system. Mr. Sène arranges for students to be welcomed and picked up at the airport upon their arrival, organizes an orientation program, advises students about their course selections, facilitates the registration process, and arranges housing. In addition, the Assistant to the Program Coordinator (usually a graduate student at the University) coordinates orientation and other activities, and assists students in taking advantage of the many cultural opportunities that Dakar has to offer. The orientation program varies slightly from year to year, but generally includes an introduction to the city of Dakar and the university, including visits to cultural and historic sites; a brief trip outside of Dakar; and a cross-cultural seminar.[3]
[edit] Enrollment
In order for the foreigners to attend Cheikh Anta Diop there are some formalities that allow you: For the faculties of medicine you have to: - Write a text according to your option chosen - Photocopy of your high school grades and the baccalaureate - Act of your birthday minus those 3 months - Certificate of your nationality - Letter accompanied of your embassy or consulate - Your dossier must be there before the 30 September of the year. For the faculties of pharmacy - You must have at least 18 years or more - 22 years or more for the pharmacy or chirurgic of teeth - Have the average grade in the 3 scientific courses: Math, Biology, and physics The fees are 150000 cfa for the faculties and 300000cfa for the institutes.
[edit] Strike
As other universities, it is not uncommon in many African countries for students to go on strike from time to time to protest against government or University policies as it happened earlier. UCAD experiences student strikes occasionally and it generally does not last more than one or two weeks; so far, the only one of the rare longer strike occurred during the 1993 presidential election. Short-term strikes may be somewhat disruptive, but do not generally affect the work of the academic year, and they allow for an excellent opportunity to learn about Senegalese politics. Should a longer strike occur, Cheikh Anta Diop University will attempt to arrange tutorial work so that students may continue with their studies while the University is closed.
[edit] Works Cited
- ^ University Cheikh Anta Diop. (2004). University Cheikh Anta Diop’s Background. Retrieved March 27, 2004, from http://www.ucad.sn
- ^ Wells Program. (2005). Dakar Program for foreigners. Retrieved April 10, 2005, from http://www.wells.edu/academic/dakar.htm
- ^ Cheikh Anta Diop Program. (2006). University Cheikh Anta Diop’s programs and modules. Retrieved March 13, 2006, from http://www.ucad.sn/program/
