Skip to content
CIDAQ, 3rd edition, Dakar International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Menu

CIDAQ 2026

3rd edition · Saly Portudal, Senegal
Organised by ANAQ-Sup

Dakar International Conference on Quality Assurance

in Higher Education, Research and Innovation

Register for the conferenceRead the call for papers

Registration is open

25–27

November 2026

Saly Portudal

edition
3rd
days of work
3
thematic strands
7
participant categories
5

The conference

ANAQ-Sup's flagship event on quality assurance

CIDAQ is ANAQ-Sup's flagship scientific and institutional event on quality assurance in higher education, research and innovation. Held periodically, it brings together policy makers, quality assurance agencies, higher education institutions, research organisations, lecturer-researchers, students, technical and financial partners, international organisations and socio-economic stakeholders.

  • Vision

    To establish itself as a leading African forum on quality assurance policies, practices and innovations.

  • Mission

    To promote a culture of quality, encourage knowledge sharing, build capacity, stimulate institutional and scientific cooperation and support the reform of higher education, research and innovation systems.

  • Values

    Excellence, integrity, innovation, cooperation, inclusion, responsibility and knowledge sharing.

Themes

One central theme, seven strands

Central theme
« Quality assurance in higher education, research and innovation: from strategy to embedding a quality culture at the heart of the transformations of the HERI system »

Strand 1

Quality governance and steering in a changing HERI system

  • the link between institutional governance and quality assurance;
  • the role of public policy in structuring quality;
  • leadership and change management;
  • co-construction of policies and quality approaches with stakeholders.

Strand 2

From strategy to embedding a lasting quality culture

  • spreading a quality culture within institutions;
  • effective ownership of quality assurance standards and mechanisms;
  • turning values into measurable practices;
  • success factors and obstacles in implementation.

Strand 3

Quality assurance, relevance of programmes and employability

  • matching training and employment;
  • the contribution of quality assurance to graduates' integration into work and employability.

Strand 4

Quality assurance of research and innovation

  • evaluation and quality assurance of research centres and organisations (COR) and doctoral schools (ED);
  • quality and impact of research on socio-economic development;
  • innovation, transfer and valorisation;
  • the training–research–innovation link.

Strand 5

Digital transformation and innovation in quality assurance

  • data management, digitalisation of processes and quality steering;
  • use of emerging technologies in quality assurance (artificial intelligence, big data, …);
  • ethical and organisational issues of digital technology.

Strand 6

Quality assurance, equity, inclusion and social responsibility

  • equitable access to quality education;
  • gender, inclusion and quality assurance;
  • social responsibility of institutions;
  • contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Strand 7

Cooperation, harmonisation and recognition of qualifications

  • regional and international frameworks for harmonisation, recognition and academic and professional mobility (ASG-QA, ACQF, UNESCO conventions);
  • inter-institutional cooperation and networking in higher education and quality assurance.
See the seven strands

Programme

Three days of work

The detailed day-by-day programme will be published here once approved by the committees.

See the programme

  • Plenary sessions

    Opening lectures and high-level panels bringing together policy makers, experts and international partners on the main strategic directions of quality assurance

  • Parallel thematic sessions

    Scientific and technical papers organised by conference strand, to explore specific topics in depth and showcase experience

  • Round tables

    Interactive exchanges between stakeholders (HEIs, research organisations, partners, socio-economic sector) that encourage dialogue and the sharing of perspectives

  • Practical workshops

    Capacity-building sessions on quality assurance tools, methods and mechanisms, including digital innovations

  • Reporting and synthesis sessions

    Consolidating the discussions and drafting strategic and operational recommendations

Participants

Taking part in CIDAQ

Participation fees

Registration (lunch and coffee breaks, accommodation not included), in CFA francs

Students
150 FCFA
Lecturer-researchers and researchers
50,000 FCFA
Heads / representatives of HEIs and research organisations
100,000 FCFA
Representatives of quality assurance agencies
150,000 FCFA
Representatives of technical and financial partners and other participants
200,000 FCFA
Register for the conference

Payment is made online, after registering.

Key dates

  1. 5 August 2026PastCall for papers launched
  2. 21 September 2026ClosedDeadline for abstracts
  3. 12 October 2026PastNotification of accepted abstracts
  4. 20 November 2026UpcomingSubmission of full papers
  5. 25 to 27 November 2026UpcomingConference

Registration is open

Book your place for 25, 26 and 27 November 2026, in Saly Portudal.

Register for the conferenceRead the call for papersBecome a partner

Partners

Our partners

The institutions and organisations supporting the 3rd edition of CIDAQ.

Become a partner