Ambitious expansion works for Thiès University

Senegal’s University of Thiès is to benefit from a FCFA6.9 billion (US$11.8 million) renovation for the construction of quality facilities, Touty Diop, a representative of the regional education authority, has announced.

Le Soleil of Dakar reported that the works would take place under the national programme for higher education governance and finance on a 58-hectare extension to the north of the university, and would last 20 months.

On completion, the new facilities would include additional teaching and administrative blocks, a technology centre, a 1,000-place library, conference centre, information systems division and auditorium for a further 1,000 seats.

The extensions would also house areas for video-conferences, distance education, science facilities, extra student facilities, a sports complex, a shopping centre and a maison de l’étudiant for students’ cultural and social needs, reported Le Soleil.

Diop said that in addition to the planned new works the Ministry of Higher Education and Research was also funding renovation, already carried out, that the Thiès city hall had gifted to the university.

This site had been transformed into student accommodation with amenities such as football and basketball pitches, a restaurant and a study area, and nearly 400 students were about to move in, reported Le Soleil.

Other rehabilitation projects included a site for housing the education authority, a conference centre and an auditorium for big university events, as well as an apartment block with a meeting room and restaurant for university teachers and researchers, and for university visitors, said Diop.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.