The National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) of The Gambia on Thursday hosted the Autorité Nationale d’Assurance Qualité de l’Enseignement Supérieur (ANAQ-SUP) - the National Authority for Quality Assurance in Higher Education of Senegal (ANAQ-SUP) during a three-day working visit aimed at deepening cooperation in quality assurance, capacity building, and peer learning.
Held at NAQAA’s offices in Kanifing on 15 January 2026, the meeting brought together senior officials from both institutions to explore joint initiatives that will enhance the relevance, credibility, and impact of higher education systems in the two countries, while contributing to the broader regional and continental education agenda.
The visit is viewed as a catalyst for renewed institutional collaboration, with discussions focusing on the registration and accreditation of public and private higher education institutions, postgraduate programme evaluation, and experience-sharing in research assessment and quality audits.
Speaking at the forum, Alhagie Momodou Jallow, Chairman of NAQAA’s Governing Council, said both authorities operate within similar regional and development contexts and share a common commitment to upholding quality and relevance in higher education.
He noted that the engagement aimed to revitalise cooperation through the exchange of experiences and best practices in accreditation, quality assurance audits, and continuous improvement processes. He expressed optimism that the dialogue would be constructive, practical, and forward-looking, while also strengthening professional relationships and identifying new areas for cooperation.
NAQAA Chief Executive Officer Momodou Lamin Tarro said the engagement reflects not only a shared institutional mission but also the deep historical, cultural, and socio-educational ties between The Gambia and Senegal.
“Our two countries share common heritage, languages, values, and a long tradition of cooperation, which naturally extends to higher education and quality assurance,” Dr Tarro said, adding that the enduring relationship provides a strong foundation for trust, learning and sustained collaboration.
He described the platform as an important opportunity for exchanging methodologies, innovations and solutions to common challenges, noting that such dialogue would help broaden perspectives, strengthen institutional capacity, and collectively raise standards across the higher education sector.
For his part, Professor Massamba Diouf, Chief Executive Officer of ANAQ-SUP of Senegal, reaffirmed his institution’s commitment to advancing quality education for the benefit of citizens in both countries.
A key priority for ANAQ-SUP is strengthening academic qualifications and ensuring their international recognition, he said, disclosing that plans are underway for exchange training programmes between NAQAA and ANAQ-SUP, which “will allow professionals from both countries to share expertise and best practices”.
He added: “The partnership is expected to further harmonise quality assurance frameworks, promote mutual recognition of qualifications, and support the development of a more competitive and globally recognised higher education system in The Gambia and Senegal.”
