The year 2025 was a pivotal year for Alioune Diop University (UAD) in Bambey, marked by sustained consolidation efforts, significant progress, and structural challenges. Thanks to the collective commitment of teaching and research staff, administrative, technical, and service staff, students, social and institutional partners, external members of the Board of Directors, and the social dialogue committee, UAD resolutely pursued its recovery, structuring, and growth trajectory by strengthening the diversification of its educational offerings and its student body.

These remarks were made by the rector, Professor Ibrahima Faye. He was presenting his best wishes for 2026 to the UAD community. He highlighted the progress made in normalizing the academic year, which is now almost complete, the result of sacrifices made by all stakeholders and a strong sense of responsibility.

This progress, he said, constitutes a crucial milestone towards the sustainable stabilization of the academic calendar and the continuous improvement of teaching quality. The year 2025, the rector continued, was also marked by decisive institutional advances, notably: the adoption of the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, developed using an inclusive approach and based on leveraging internal expertise; and the continued completion of the governance bodies, with the establishment of the Academic Council and Board of Directors committees.

Not to mention the review and adoption of the new UAD organizational chart, consistent with strategic orientations and organizational performance requirements; the signing of the 2026-2028 Performance Contract (CDP), with a total funding of 550,000,000 CFA francs, reflecting the renewed confidence of the State in our institution; the establishment of the Social Dialogue Committee, a key instrument of participatory governance, responsible for promoting the culture of peace and dialogue, preventing conflicts and, where necessary, ensuring mediation and dispute resolution, through an inclusive and representative College of Mediators (bringing together academics, alumni, local authorities, religious and experts) guaranteeing credibility and impartiality.

Academically, UAD achieved a historic milestone with the awarding, in December 2025, of the supplementary institutional accreditation granted by ANAQ-Sup. According to the Rector, this decision

The institutional accreditation of 2018, completed in 2025, guarantees full coverage of all our DUT, Engineering Diploma, Bachelor's, Master's and State Doctorate in Medicine programs. This is a strong recognition of the quality of our training offer and the seriousness of our academic governance.

The past year has also been marked by the strengthening of human resources, with new recruitment at both the faculty and administrative staff levels, significant promotions, career changes, and training funding, reflecting our ongoing commitment to investing in human capital, a fundamental driver of academic excellence.

In particular, this section aims to highlight - to magnify - the allocation of new teaching positions by the State, including 50 allocated to UAD.

In terms of infrastructure and working conditions, Professor Ibrahima Faye is pleased with: the construction of a second borehole, donated by Baobab Mining Chemical and Corporation (BMCC), contributing to securing the water supply; and the provision of an electrical transformer by the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, to improve the power supply to the main UAD site.

Also included was the launch and start-up of activities at the agroecological university farm (FUAE), integrating training, production, and entrepreneurship, a symbol of UAD's commitment to sustainable development and innovation; and the handover of equipment and the inauguration of the new incubator at Alioune Diop University, established with the support of PESEREE, constituting a strategic tool for the

promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.

And to continue: the year 2026 thus opens with new perspectives, but also great responsibilities. Our priorities remain clear: to definitively finalize the normalization of the academic year, consolidate institutional governance, improve the quality of teaching and services, strengthen research and innovation, and continue the strengthening and modernization of

infrastructures in a spirit of performance, transparency and collective responsibility, while ensuring the proper execution of the first phase of the CDP.

This is why Professor Ibrahima Faye is once again calling for renewed commitment, a sense of duty, solidarity, and a spirit of belonging from all members of our university community. It is through dialogue, mutual trust, and the complementarity of our roles that we will continue to build a strong, attractive, and resolutely forward-looking Alioune Diop University.

excellence.