International Workshop for Scientists on Community Engagement and University Career Management

Building Capacity of its fellows, training Senegalese and sub-regional teachers / researchers to better understand the concept of community engagement and to better manage their university career are the main objectives of MARCAD program (Malaria Research Capacity Development in West and Central Africa).

Those were the motivation for MARCAD director Professor Oumar Gaye and his team to hold an international workshop to sensitize Scientists on community engagement and University Career Management. The event was held from 20 to 22 June 2019 at the Keur Socé Research and Training Center, Kaolack, Sénégal.

The workshop was organized in partnership with Sine Saloum University El Hadj Ibrahima NIASS (USSEIN). This activity was intended for teachers/researchers of Sine Saloum El Hajj Ibrahima NIASS University (USSEIN), Dakar Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), University of Science, technics and Technology of Bamako (USTTB), Young Scientists from different Research Institutes of Senegal and other Social actors.

The mayor of Keur Socé delivered the opening speech of the meeting in the presence of the MARCAD director Prof Oumar Gaye, the rector representative from USSEIN, Prof Diégane Diouf and the village chief of Keur Socé Mr Babou Ndiaye.
"For us these kind of meetings are extremely important. When young teachers / researchers have a clear career path they will know that community service is a critical factor in their career development, "said MARCAD director Pr Oumar Gaye in his speech.
According to Pr Gaye, it is very common in the CAMES professorship exam that the jury ask for the candidate community engagement activities. A question that many candidates will not be able to answer because of their misunderstanding of the concept.
"This workshop comes just in time for us. Many questions are often asked about the concept of community engagement as why, how, and who should do it, "explained Prof Diégane Diouf, representative of the Rector of USSEIN.
All participants of the workshop seemed to have the same misunderstanding about the concept of community engagement. They confided that they were also wondering about causes of many failures recorded in the professorship exam of the African and Malagasy Council of Higher Education (CAMES).
In charge of the animation of the workshop, the Expert Trainer in community engagement and CAMES graduated Lecturer at the Gaston Berger University (Thies, Senegal) Prof Amadou NDIAYE and the CAMES representative in Senegal, Prof Cheikh Tidjiane BA provided answers to all these questions during the workshop.

"Before we did not have clear understanding on the meaning of community engagement concept but at the end of this workshop we were able to make a clearer idea of what it is. Thanks to this workshop, now we also know how to build a strong nomination file and avoid failures in our application to CAMES. We have received useful information, "said Dr Aminata SENE from USSEIN.
Dr. El Hadji Omar Ndao Teacher Researcher also states that it was with this workshop that they were able to have the essential information they needed to better serve their communities but also to avoid failures at CAMES.
An affirmation supported by all the participants who expressed their satisfaction to have participated in the workshop which in total have brought together five university institutions: UCAD, USSEIN, UGB and USTTB of Bamako.

"We have learned many things that will enable us to inform our university leaders and adopt strategies for our training programs," said Safiatou Niaré Doumbo from the University of Bamako.
As for him, Dr. Cheikh Thiaw Researcher Teacher says that now they are well equipped on all these issues to better manage their academic careers and better serve their communities.
"We will also bring to our young students all that we have learned here," added Dr. Thiaw.
MARCAD has included community engagement as an essential component of its research and training programme. That’s why the programme has found necessary to organize this workshop.