Baidy Dieng
27 March 2017
Chair - UWC Senegal
Baidy was asked, back in 1989, with a few Senegalese ex-students who came back to their country after university, to help the selection process in Senegal as there has been challenges in 1988. The request came from Richard Taylor former head of the International office in London who came to Senegal to meet with former Senegalese students. So Baidy took on the challenge with 3 ex-students and they reestablished the National Selection Committee in good collaboration with the Ministry of National Education. Up until then, it was only the Ministry of National Education which appointed for a number of years one of its technical advisor to run by himself the selection process.
He is the Chair of the Senegal National Committee and looks after the selection process, the relationships with ex-students (that are in country and abroad), makes the link with the Ministry of National Education. I organize some fundraising among the ex UWC Senegalese students to help some of the families when necessary for pocket money or travel tickets (when we can afford it). He also (with 3 or 4 ex-students depending on their availability) talks to the parents or answers their questions especially when the selection is completed.
Baidy has been volunteering since 1989 and the first selection in which he got the ex-students to be involved equally with the Ministry of National Education, was 1990. And that has been the case ever since. Knowing that the agreement with the International Office in 1989 was that the scholarship offers would come through the NC which would inform the Ministry in order to work with them on the selection process. In order to have a close control of the process from start to finish.
After UWC Atlantic College (1980-1982), he had a full scholarship from the Senegal & French government to study in France in Business School. He graduated from that in 1987 and started my career at Ernst & Young where he is now a Senior Partner leading our Consulting Business across French speaking Africa (Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Congo Brazzaville, DR Congo, Cameroon and Gabo, where they have offices, and around). He holds a master's Degree in Finance and Organization and a master's degree in Public Affairs from the Paris Institute of Political Sciences (otherwise called “Sciences Po Paris” and well known in France).
When describing why he continues to volunteer for UWC, Baidy said:
“I have been given an incredible opportunity to live 2 exceptional years in my life at UWC Atlantic College. It was an unique experience that I would like anyone to benefit from. I can still see the benefit of it in my day-to-day life both in private and in my professional encounters with people and situations. I believe it is a duty and a pleasure to help have more and more people from Senegal and Africa to have this opportunity… that makes a difference in life.”