Generative AI in higher education: Senegal’s Academy of Sciences works toward a national framework

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The National Academy of Sciences and Technology of Senegal (ANSTS) opened a two-day workshop in Dakar on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, on the use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education and research. The discussions are meant to produce proposals for a harmonised national framework.

The meeting brings together academics, researchers, experts and players from the digital ecosystem, the daily Le Soleil reported. Speakers shared one observation: generative AI tools have become part of university practice without common rules.

“We are in a situation of use without a framework,” said Professor Elhadj Babacar Ly, director of innovation, valorisation, intellectual property and technology transfer, who represented the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. (Original French: « Nous sommes dans un usage sans cadre ».) He pointed to four shortcomings: no explicit policies within institutions, a lack of certified skills, scattered initiatives, and dependence on foreign platforms, with implications for costs, digital sovereignty and the promotion of national languages.

A national guide and training for trainers

The minister’s representative called for three tools: a national guide on the use of generative AI, a skills framework and a train-the-trainers programme. “Our responsibility is clear: neither to suffer nor to forbid, but to regulate and train,” he said. These proposals have yet to be adopted; the ministry has pledged to support the implementation of the workshop’s conclusions.

According to him, Senegal is also working to set up a national artificial intelligence centre in Diamniadio as part of its cooperation with Korea. No timetable or budget was given.

Usage is already widespread

Professor Moussa Lo, a full member of the National Academy of Sciences and Technology, presented early findings from a survey of university stakeholders conducted by UN-CHK. They show substantial use of AI to prepare courses, design assessments and write reports. He stressed that harmonising practices does not mean making them uniform; the aim is to move beyond individual initiatives toward a coherent national approach.

The adoption of generative AI in Senegalese universities was already under discussion in October, when Professor Abdallah Cissé called for a rethink of teaching methods. The recommendations of the ANSTS workshop, expected at the end of the two days, had not been made public at the time of writing.

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