The Saint Dominic University of West Africa (USDAO) is set to expand its academic portfolio with the launch of new courses in economics, management, and humanitarian health logistics, reflecting a bold step towards blending practical training with socio-economic realities.
This was confirmed during a strategic academic session held on July 31 and August 1, 2025, involving faculty members and administrators in Burkina Faso’s capital.
Already offering degrees in medicine, pharmacy, law, architecture, and more, USDAO plans to open a Faculty of Economics and Management alongside a pioneering bachelor’s and master’s programme in humanitarian and health logistics.
These initiatives respond directly to regional demands for skills that can support development and crisis response.
Professor Ferdinand Ouédraogo, a lecturer and researcher at Thomas Sankara University and collaborator on the project, outlined a novel “university-business” model that integrates hands-on agricultural practice with theoretical coursework.
“In line with the Head of State’s vision prioritizing agriculture for food security, students will work directly on university-affiliated farms to process and market agricultural products,” he said. “This approach not only bridges theory and practice but also offers students a way to finance their studies.”
Dr Pierre-Paul Missehoungbe, Secretary General of USDAO, highlighted the university’s mission: “Our aim is to train competent and balanced leaders rooted in the realities of their society. Education here is not only scientific but also spiritual and human, inspired by our Dominican heritage.”
The humanitarian logistics programme, led by project manager Dr André Savadogo, addresses an urgent gap in local training. “NGOs and UN agencies have long awaited a formal course in health logistics,” he explained. The programme is accessible to new graduates and experienced professionals alike, positioning USDAO as a regional hub for this critical expertise.
Since its 2018 inception, USDAO has grown to host over 900 students from more than 15 countries, fostering a rich, diverse academic community. Despite its rural location in Doulougou, the university views this as an asset, creating an integrated environment for learning, innovation, and local development.
This academic expansion underscores USDAO’s commitment to equipping students for self-employment and leadership in agribusiness, humanitarian work, and beyond — a clear response to Burkina Faso’s evolving educational and economic landscape.
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