Photo Gallery: SDSU, Ivory Coast explore partnership opportunities
A high-level government delegation from the West African country delved into collaborations around innovation, entrepreneurship
San Diego State University welcomed a government delegation from Côte d'Ivoire, (Ivory Coast) this month, which culminated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore academic and educational cooperation through faculty exchanges, study abroad, collaborative research, innovation and entrepreneurship, joint education initiatives, and beyond.
SDSU President Adela de la Torre joined Eugene Aka-Aouélé, President of the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Cultural Council of Côte d'Ivoire, and Mamady Kourouma, legal affairs chief of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the signing ceremony. SDSU leadership and college deans also attended.
A French speaking nation of approximately 30 million, Côte d'Ivoire has a large youth demographic, with roughly three-quarters of its people under 35 years old. Led by Aka-Aouélé, Côte d'Ivoire is seeking pathways through innovation and entrepreneurship to deliver prosperity for its young population. These efforts include partnerships with higher education institutions abroad.
The country’s commitment to making it easier for their citizens to incorporate new businesses parallels SDSU’s strengths in providing the resources for students to start successful businesses through avenues such as the ZIP Launchpad incubator. Both Côte d'Ivoire and SDSU are focused on sustainability and clean energy, particularly in the agricultural sector. President Aka-Aouélé’s plans are reminiscent of the California State University system’s prioritization of an education that enables career readiness and social mobility.
SDSU’s Division of Research and Innovation, International Affairs, and Global Campus hosted the week’s events for the 14-person group. The delegation met with representatives across SDSU colleges, research labs and entrepreneurship ecosystems. The group also spent time with San Diego government and economic development officials, and visited The Language Academy, a local French/Spanish/English immersion school.
Check out photos from the visit in the gallery.
