{"id":21063,"date":"2025-08-26T13:36:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T11:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fdef-en\/?post_type=news&p=21063"},"modified":"2025-08-27T10:18:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T08:18:13","slug":"a-fresh-start-for-interuniversity-cooperation-in-west-africa","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fdef-en\/news\/a-fresh-start-for-interuniversity-cooperation-in-west-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"A fresh start for interuniversity cooperation in West Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Professor Arnaud Bourgain<\/a> is happy to be setting foot in Africa for University Cooperation once again. Associate Professor within the University of Luxembourg\u2019s Department of Economics and Management, he has spearheaded the Interuniversity Cooperation in Mali since its founding in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a decade of working together directly to develop doctoral education in law, along with Professor David Hiez<\/a>, and economics at two universities in Bamako (Universit\u00e9 de Sciences juridiques et politiques, <\/em>and Universit\u00e9 des Sciences sociales<\/em> et de gestion<\/em>) increasing political instability in the region led to the shuttering of the project in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the idea of fostering connection and inspiring young doctoral researchers in this region of the world has not lost any steam. In 2024, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade and the University of Luxembourg\u00a0signed a three-year agreement establishing the Regional Interuniversity Cooperation Agreement \u2013 West Africa (Projet r\u00e9gional de Coop\u00e9ration interuniversitaire Luxembourg – Afrique de l\u2019Ouest<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initial agreement provides support to doctoral researchers in law and economics. Luxembourg Cooperation partner countries in West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Cap Vert), Through the organisation of seminars, workshops and conferences in S\u00e9n\u00e9gal (Dakar and Saint-Louis) and B\u00e9nin (Cotonou) for reseachers across West Africa, as well as complementary teaching of research methodologies locally in Bamako. Prof. Bourgain is joined by Associate Professor Thomas Mastrullo<\/a>, expert in commercial and international business law, along with a team of Luxembourg-based researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a strong focus on Development Economics and an interest in African economies, Prof. Bourgain understands the unique challenges faced by young academics in the region. The organisation of seminars, such as the project\u2019s inaugural Doctoral Seminar held in Dakar in June 2025, allows the researchers to meet peers while learning new research techniques and methodologies. \u201cThe project will help the doctoral students build their networks,\u201d he explains. \u201cThey will be able to meet others who are doing similar work and find professional and personal connections. We are helping to create a robust academic community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The seminar helped us build a network and exchange with researchers from abroad,” explains Moctar Gassama, a PhD student at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, S\u00e9n\u00e9gal. “It also allowed us to identify new research opportunities.” For students, such as G. Cr\u00e9pin Azonsode, studying at Parakou University in Benin, the academic seminar can also be a way to confirm their interest in the subject. “Participating reassured me of my choice to continue to my research in economics,” he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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