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Success Story

Photo: USAID/Richard Nyberg

Computer science students Rodolph Bekoule of Cameroon, left, and Ahamada Moustakima of the Comoros, review course offerings. Both say their chances of landing a job after graduation are high. “The website brings a new dimension and this prompts me to be more ambitious. Currently I’m building new classrooms and housing to be able to accommodate 1,000 students,” said University Director Dr. El Hadj Issa Sall.

By improving online access to a private university in Senegal, USAID is helping make quality education for African students a real alternative to costly study in Europe or North America. As part of an initiative to improve access to information technology in developing countries, USAID helped the Université du Sahel in Dakar set up a website (www.unis.sn), online registration, an electronic library, and online courses — all important services to boost the university’s competitiveness.

Building an interactive website has been a long-time dream of the university’s leadership. “Having traveled and visited many universities, I wanted to have a website similar to the best American universities,” said University Director Dr. El Hadj Issa Sall. Technology has made him a busier man, but he is not complaining.

“The website brings a new dimension and this prompts me to be more ambitious. Currently I’m building new classrooms and housing to be able to accommodate 1,000 students,” he added.

Greater visibility has led to more students and more revenue. The university, which opened in 1998, has grown into an institution with over 400 students from 20 African countries. With a faculty of 80, it offers courses in information technology, law, and economics. With USAID support, the university was also able to provide every computer science student with access to a fully networked computer linked to the Internet.

Since more than 80 percent of the university’s students come from African countries, the website has made registration easier for everyone. “I wasted a lot of time during the registration process. Now it takes only one week to process applications, make decisions, and inform parents,” he said. About one-fifth of students now register online.

The university received assistance as part of a USAID project to equip developing nations with information technology tools. Its success ensures that it will be replicated in other countries.

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