Senegalese Ambassador returns to Cardiff to visit School of Modern Languages
15 October 2019
This September, the School of Modern Languages welcomed Professor Cheikh Ahmadou Dieng, Ambassador of The Republic of Senegal to Cardiff.
The purpose of Professor Dieng’s visit was to discuss possible routes of collaboration between Cardiff University and a number of Senegalese universities. However, this was not the first time that Professor Dieng had visited the city. Over forty years ago, he had lived in Cardiff and worked as a language assistant at a local school, Fitzalan High. After a chance meeting between School of Modern Languages Professor Gordon Cumming and El Hadji Diop, the First Secretary of the Senegalese Embassy, at an event earlier in the year, Professor Dieng had expressed a keen interest to return to the city.
The School was more than happy to welcome the Ambassador especially at a time when it is piloting a project which involves collaboration with Senegalese universities. Since February the School has been part of the successful Bili initiative which links UK students with Senegalese students for linguistic and cultural exchange through digital media. The scheme has been driven forward by the School of Modern Languages and is part of the British Council’s ‘English Connects’ programme, which aims to connect the UK to African youth through the medium of English.
During Professor Dieng’s visit he attended a presentation on the project from leaders Marie Gastinel-Jones and Cathy Molinaro and discussed building upon the links already forged to improve teaching and research mobility.
Director of International, Nick Parsons said, “It was a pleasure to meet the Ambassador, and a friendly and mutually beneficial exchange took place which will enable the School of Modern Languages to build upon links made with Senegalese universities through the highly successful Bili project.”
More information about the Bili project can be found on the School’s news pages.
(Pictured from left to right El Hadji Cheikh Diop, First Secretary of the Embassy, Professor Gordon Cumming, Professor Ambreena Manji, Professor Cheikh Ahmadou Dieng, Ambassador of The Republic of Senegal, Dr Liz Wren-Owen, Marie Gastinel Jones, Dr Nick Parsons, Cathy Molinaro.)