Centre d'Études des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information

What Centre d'Études des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information does

CESTI (Centre d'Études des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information) is a public higher education institution founded in 1965 in Dakar, Senegal, operating under the governance of Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD). It is the oldest public journalism school in Sub-Saharan Africa and is recognized by UNESCO as the leading francophone African journalism school (ranked 1st among francophone institutions and 10th of 96 schools evaluated across Africa in 2007). The institution delivers training across the full degree arc — three-year Licences (Bac+3) in Journalism, Communication, and Audiovisual Production; a two-year Master (Bac+5) in Media and Communication with five specializations; and a doctoral program (Bac+8) in Information and Communication Sciences conducted through the affiliated ETHOS Doctoral School. Supplementary offerings include ten-month professional certificates and the FADP continuing education program for working journalists.

The school's technical infrastructure supports hands-on training across media formats and includes a fully equipped television studio, two digitized radio studios, a desktop publishing (PAO) room, a digital audio editing suite, and a photographic laboratory. Research is conducted under the GIRMEC laboratory (11 faculty researchers, 10 doctoral students) across three axes: Media-Language-Society, Communication-Politics-Territories, and Journalism-Innovation-Digital. The institution serves baccalaureate holders seeking initial training, working media professionals pursuing continuing education, and doctoral candidates conducting African-context media research, with students drawn from over 21 nationalities across West and Central Africa through a competitive entrance examination administered regionally.

CESTI's revenue mechanics combine multiple public-finance streams: initial Licence-level training is free for new baccalaureate holders under Senegal's public higher education system; Master programs charge differentiated tuition (50,000–1,200,000 F CFA) by nationality and prior relationship; professional certificates cost 150,000 F CFA registration plus 100,000 F CFA per month over ten months; and entrance examination fees (10,000–10,100 F CFA) provide marginal top-of-funnel revenue. The institution is sustained primarily by Senegalese government funding supplemented by program-specific external partnerships, including the FADP press development fund for working journalists, French Embassy funding for investigative journalism fellowships, and the Réseau Théophraste network under the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.

Name

Centre d'Études des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information

Legal name

Centre d'Études des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information

Website

https://cesti.ucad.sn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CESTI is a public higher education institution under Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal, founded in 1965. It trains journalists, communication specialists, and audiovisual production professionals across West and Central Africa through Licence, Master, and Doctorate programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Journalism and Communication Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Journalism education
• Communication training
• Audiovisual production
• Media studies
• Press development

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Master Program: Graduate-level education with differentiated tuition fees based on student origin and prior relationship with CESTI. Includes 2,400 hours of training over two academic years combining theoretical modules, professional practice workshops, and elective specializations.
2. Professional Certificates - Registration Fees: 10-month professional certificate programs for working media and communication professionals. Registration fees of 150,000 F CFA plus monthly payments of 100,000 F CFA. Covers 8 specialized modules including organizational communication, digital communication, political marketing, audiovisual production, sound techniques, media training, photojournalism, and advocacy campaigns.
3. Entrance Examination Fees: Non-refundable application fees for competitive entrance examination: 10,000 F CFA for provincial CAOSP centers, 10,100 F CFA for Dakar candidates paid via WAVE mobile payment operator.
4. Initial Training (Free): Initial training is free for new baccalaureate holders as part of public higher education. Revenue is derived from government funding and international partnerships rather than direct student fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CESTI is a public higher education school delivering initial training (Licence, Bac+3) in Journalism, Communication, and Audiovisual Production; an advanced Master (Bac+5) in Media and Communication with five specializations; a Doctorate (Bac+8) in Information and Communication Sciences; and continuing education programs (Certificats Pratiques and FADP) for working media professionals. Programs combine theoretical coursework with hands-on practice in professional TV and radio studios and research activities through the GIRMEC laboratory.

Product overview

CESTI is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs and professional certifications in journalism, communication, and audiovisual production. The core offerings include undergraduate Licences (Bac+3) in Journalism, Communication, and Audiovisual Production; a Master (Bac+5) in Media and Communication with five specializations; and a Doctorate (Bac+8) in Information and Communication Sciences. Supplementary offerings include eight practical professional certificates (10-month programs) covering specialized areas like digital communication and media training, and the FADP continuing education program for working journalists. A research laboratory (GIRMEC) supports doctoral and advanced research activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FADP (Fonds d'appui et de développement de la presse): A hybrid training program for working journalists and communicators that combines online tutoring with monthly in-person sessions in Dakar, funded under the press development support fund.
• GIRMEC

Quantifiable outcome

• UNESCO-ranked 10th among 96 journalism schools in Africa, 1st among francophone African institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ISMAC (Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Audiovisuel et du Cinéma)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Strategic partnership signed between CESTI and ISMAC (Morocco) to strengthen audiovisual production training in Africa. Includes student and faculty exchanges, joint creation and research projects, audiovisual and cinematic co-production initiatives, and development of cultural and creative industries. Signed during the 1st Forum des Partenaires.
• Réseau Théophraste des Écoles de JournalismecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Professional network of francophone journalism schools under the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF). CESTI Director Professor Mamadou Ndiaye serves as network leader, re-elected in May 2026 for second four-year term. Network fosters cooperation and technical-academic collaboration among member institutions.
• École Doctorale ETHOS (Études sur l'Homme et la Société)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009CESTI's doctoral program in Information and Communication Sciences is affiliated with the ETHOS Doctoral School at UCAD. GIRMEC research laboratory is also attached to ETHOS, enabling interdisciplinary research and training for doctoral students.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1965UNESCO was a founding partner in establishing CESTI in 1965 alongside the Senegalese government and Canadian/French cooperation. Conducted evaluation of CESTI in 2007 identifying it as 10th of 96 journalism schools in Africa.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institut Pratique du Journalisme (IPJ): Paris-based journalism school (part of Panthéon-Assas) offering bachelor and master-level journalism training. Comparable to CESTI's degree-portfolio structure and emphasis on digital/practical journalism skills.
• Centre de Formation des Journalistes (CFJ): Paris-based professional journalism school recognized by the French state. Comparable to CESTI as a specialized, practice-oriented journalism training institution serving the francophone media ecosystem with selective admissions.
• ESJ Lille (École Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille): One of France's leading journalism schools, historically linked to francophone Africa and UNESCO's press training initiatives. Directly comparable to CESTI in mission (professional journalism training), pedagogical structure, and francophone Africa outreach.
• Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Audiovisuel et du Cinéma (ISMAC): Moroccan audiovisual and cinema school that signed a strategic partnership with CESTI in 2026. Directly comparable as a specialized audiovisual/media production school targeting the African creative industry.
• École de Journalisme et de Communication de l'Université Gaston Berger (EJ-Gestu): Another Senegalese journalism school at Université Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis. Directly comparable as a competing francophone West African journalism program operating in the same national higher-education market.

Broad incumbents

• Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD): CESTI's parent university, the largest university in Senegal with broad degree offerings across faculties. Comparable as the institutional ecosystem in which CESTI operates and shares infrastructure, faculty affiliations, and doctoral school placement.
• Sciences Po (Institut d'études politiques de Paris) - Journalism track: France's leading political and social sciences institution with a renowned journalism school (École de journalisme de Sciences Po). Comparable as a top-tier francophone institution producing journalists across press, broadcast, and digital.

Emerging players

• African Leadership University (ALU) School of Journalism: Pan-African higher education institution offering programs with media and communication components. Comparable as a newer-generation African education brand targeting a similar pan-African student base.

Regional players

• University of the Western Cape (UWC) School of Journalism: One of Africa's most established journalism programs, based in South Africa. Comparable as a Sub-Saharan African journalism school with degree programs, research output, and an alumni network in the African media industry.

Others

• Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF): Umbrella organization for francophone higher education, which houses the Réseau Théophraste network led by CESTI's director. Comparable as the strategic ecosystem enabling CESTI's regional network, funding access, and accreditation pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cesti-centre-d-%C3%A9tudes-des-sciences-et-techniques-de-l-information

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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