Place-Based Interdisciplinary Study Abroad in Senegal: Geography, Global Studies, and Francophone Studies

Abstract

This article outlines a faculty-led, interdisciplinary study abroad program to Dakar, Senegal, in 2014 and 2016 sponsored by South Dakota State University (SDSU) and hosted by the West African Research Center (WARC). This article highlights in particular the contributions of Geography, Global Studies, and Francophone Studies to program design and execution. Broadly, the program goals were to interrogate processes of globalization on places that are often at the margins of the global political economy. Globalization is a key topic of inquiry for Geography, Global Studies, and Francophone Studies and is approached in complementary ways by the different fields. Senegal was selected as the site for our study as it is an economic, cultural, and political hub of West Africa. West Africa is often described as a peripheral region, and the aim was to challenge this hierarchy by focusing on how globalization is mediated and negotiated in a particular place. The African continent is an important, but often neglected, region for study abroad. At the time this study abroad was conceptualized, SDSU did not have any faculty-led programs to the African continent. A Francophone country was intentionally selected so that participants pursuing a French Studies major could further develop their language skills, though proficiency in French was not required to participate in the program. The two program co-leaders are tenure-track faculty members in Geography and Global Studies/Francophone Studies and have substantial academic experience in West Africa, training in intercultural competence, and place-based experience in Senegal. Though the program was designed by the American faculty members, local voices were prioritized in the field. The faculty leaders consistently highlighted local perspectives during the in-country portion of the program through guest lectures delivered exclusively by Senegalese experts, site visits to African-led organizations in Dakar, and excursions to rural areas of the country. This prioritization of African voices and experiences was made possible through a collaborative partnership with WARC. WARC is led by Senegalese experts, promotes academic and cultural exchange between West African and American scholars, and increases awareness of the critical place of West Africa in the global community. Centering place and foregrounding local voices also reflects the intersections of Geography, Global Studies, and Francophone Studies that made this study abroad program successful.