PEA@CY-UAM : CY/UAM partnership for a sustainable construction university program in Senegal – PEA @ CY-UAM

PEA@CY-UAM is a partnership project between Amadou Mahtar Mbow University (UAM; Senegal), CY Cergy Paris University (CYU) and ECAM-EPMI. This project aims, first, to accompany and accelerate the development of the civil engineering undergraduate and postgraduate programs at UAM and, second, to contribute strongly to the development of approaches related to green construction in the building industry of Senegal.
For this purpose, PEA@CY-UAM will set up a complete sustainable construction university program, in Technical University logic as deployed by CYU in France (active teaching, worked based alternate learning, social responsibility, fundamental and applied research). The project includes the reinforcement of UAM's civil engineering undergraduate degree, the implementation of three vocational bachelor degrees (Energy Efficiency in Construction, Design Offices and Digital Design, Management of Construction Works) and three master's courses (Design, Construction and Building Engineering, Design, Construction and Public Works Engineering, Green Building Design).
The project also intends to start an engineering education program. At the end of the 4 years of the PEA, these developments will contribute to doubling the number of civil engineering students at UAM compared to the original forecast without the PEA (250 students enrolled are targeted at the end of the 4 years of the project). A part of the diplomas will be implemented within the framework of CYU / UAM double diplomas.
In terms of pedagogy, the graduating years of the planned programs will be based on the pedagogy of worked based alternate learning that CYU is developing in France and that the project proposes to adapt to the Senegalese context. This pedagogy will be implemented in partnership with construction companies in Senegal who are already very interested in the concept.
The project plans to operate a joint digital platform and a digital bridge between UAM and CYU in order to share resources and educational tools and to offer distance learning and interaction to students of both CYU and UAM.
At the doctoral level, the project foresees the establishment of an international doctoral school, which will include a program to support innovation and entrepreneurship, and the establishment of a joint CYU / UAM research program to develop sustainable construction materials and processes. This project will also include a coaching and training program for UAM’s young teacher-researchers.
Finally, programs to promote higher education to audiences traditionally not concerned by higher education will be deployed, based on mentoring and scholarship supplements provided with the help of companies. These programs will help to expand the recruitment pool of UAM. Specific actions to promote the participation of women in higher education programs and in the construction industry will also be carried out.