FHSU University Communications
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) has signed an agreement with DUNIS Africa to launch a cross-border academic program in Dakar, Senegal, beginning in Fall 2025.
The cross-border program, fully taught in English and blending the expertise of local faculty with FHSU professors to deliver an education that meets rigorous American academic standards, will enable students to earn an accredited FHSU degree without leaving West Africa. This initiative represents a major step in expanding high-quality, globally recognized education in the region.
The collaboration between FHSU and DUNIS Africa builds on a long-standing partnership dating back to 2017.
This ongoing partnership currently allows students to complete two years in Senegal before transferring to FHSU to finish their degrees. The new cross-border program takes this a step further, allowing students to complete all four years in Senegal.
DUNIS Africa will deliver the first two years of coursework starting in Fall 2025, with FHSU taking over instruction for the final two years beginning in Fall 2027. The program will offer a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and Economics, expanding educational opportunities for African students.
Dr. Jeni McRay, assistant provost for Internationalization and Strategic Initiatives, and Dr. Phil Wittkorn, Global Affairs Academic Partnerships director, traveled to Dakar to attend the official launch ceremony on January 15, 2025. The event was attended by senior officials, including representatives from the Senegalese government, the U.S. Embassy in Senegal, and prominent business leaders.
"This partnership is not just about education—it's about making a meaningful impact," McRay said. "From FHSU to DUNIS Africa, we're creating a world of opportunity for students to thrive together."
During their visit, McRay and Wittkorn also met with U.S. Ambassador to Senegal, Mike Raynor, to discuss how the program will enhance educational access and strengthen economic collaboration between the United States and Senegal. They reaffirmed FHSU's commitment to developing engaged global citizens and making American higher education more accessible and affordable.
"Our partnership with DUNIS-Africa is Fort Hays State University's mission in action," McRay said. "We are making degrees accessible and affordable, allowing students the opportunity to develop as an engaged global citizen leader. When they graduate, they are prepared for real-world challenges as they enter the workforce and contribute to their local communities."
"This new remote-completion option will be transformative for students who cannot relocate to the United States due to financial, family, or visa constraints," said Amadou Diawara, a current Fort Hays State student working to complete his MBA degree as part of the original DUNIS partnership.
Diawara began his higher education journey in 2017 with DUNIS Africa, where he discovered the partnership with Fort Hays State. After moving to Hays in 2019 and managing to complete his Bachelor of Business Administration in the fall of 2020, Diawara went on to deepen his practical skills through internships at marketing agencies and refined his expertise in digital strategy and campaign execution. He also co‑founded two Web3 startups, WeTrust (an agricultural crowdfunding platform powered by Bitcoin) and Deevy SAS (an NFT marketplace), while consulting for Senegalese entrepreneurship networks, incubators, and associations to sharpen his leadership and project‑management abilities.
"The FHSU-DUNIS partnership has had a profound impact on both my academic and personal journey," Diawara said. "As an undergraduate student, it gave me the opportunity to study in a truly international environment that combined academic excellence, personalized support, and cultural exchange.”
The expanded partnership between Fort Hays State and DUNIS Africa will provide opportunities for more students like Diawara to receive a world-class education that makes an impact no matter where they choose to study and live.