Columbia-Sciences Po Collaborative Graduate Seminars

Columbia-Sciences Po Collaborative Graduate Seminars

The Africa Global Seminar

At the heart of the Columbia/Sciences Po African Humanities Project supported by the French-American Cultural Exchange Partner University Fund is an on-going collaborative teaching project, The Africa Global Seminar. This is an interactive international course is offered at Sciences Po (PSIA and Ecole doctorale) and Columbia through IAS in the School of International Affairs and Public Administration (SIPA). These courses include lectures by professors Europe, Africa, and the USA on the latest research in African Studies on the topics of citizenship, social movements, urbanism, philosophy, and politics. They are designed to offer a space of critical discussion and training for Masters/Doctoral candidates at Columbia and Sciences Po.

These courses aim to:

  • Compare and contrast methods of teaching African Studies from African, French, and European traditions
  • Bring theoretical preoccupations of African Studies in the US, France, and Africa into dialogue
  • Reflect on the potential for research to contribute to public debate and the shaping of future generations

These courses were taught alternately at Sciences Po (PSIA and Ecole doctorale) and Columbia (SIPA and the Institute of African Studies). In 2017, the course expanded to include lectures by our partners at Chaire d'études africaines de l'Université Mohammed VI de Rabat, Morocco. The next course will take place this spring, 2019, under the title, "Citizenship and Social Movements in Africa." This year's seminar includes guests from France and USA and includes a range of exciting topics from transport to healthcare.

Over the years, this course has been supported by the French-American Cultural Exchange Partner University Fund. They have also benefited from support the Alliance Program at Columbia and the OxPo Program.