NOTICE OF CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
ENGLISH TRAINING RELATED TO PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT
PROVIDED BY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ALIOUNE BLONDIN BEYE PEACEKEEPING SCHOOL
In a context marked by the globalization of knowledge, the internationalization of higher education, and the rapid development of digital technologies, educational institutions are working to strengthen their academic collaborations in order to offer students diverse and high-quality training opportunities. It is with this in mind that EMP-ABB and KSU, within a framework of North-South academic cooperation, entered into a partnership in 2025 aimed at promoting training, research, and intervention on issues related to peace, security, and development.
One of the first initiatives of this academic partnership is the establishment of an English language training program for African professionals working in peace, security, and development environments. This three-month, online program, culminating in a certificate issued by KSU, will begin in September 2026, coordinated by EMP-ABB. Its objective is to offer participants the opportunity to strengthen their English language skills while accessing international educational content and innovative learning methods based on distance learning. It will allow them to interact with instructors from other academic backgrounds, thus contributing to the development of their intercultural skills and global awareness. It will prepare them for globalized professional environments where English proficiency is a major asset.
This call for applications is initiated to recruit students for the first cohort of the program, with each cohort comprising three levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). Twenty students will be selected for each level, for a total of 60 students in the first cohort. Student placement among the three levels will be determined during the registration process. Through this call for applications, EMP-ABB and KSU aim to select motivated and committed students capable of fully benefiting from this unique international English language training experience focused on peace, security, and development. Their participation in this program represents an opportunity for them to strengthen their English skills and maximize their performance in their professional environment.
TRAINING OBJECTIVE
The objective of the program is to train, every three months, three classes (beginner, intermediate and advanced) of African executives on vocabulary related to peace, security and development, taking into account the level of linguistic competence of the participants.
TRAINING CONTENT
The courses will cover three areas:
• General mastery of English: Acquisition of fundamental linguistic skills in reading, writing, listening comprehension and speaking.
• Vocabulary related to peace, security and development: Special attention will be paid to terms and expressions specific to peacekeeping.
• Cultural context: The program will include cultural awareness sessions to prepare students to thrive in diverse environments.
TRAINING STRUCTURE AND TIMETABLE
Each year, the program will train three (3) cohorts of African professionals, and each cohort will consist of three (3) classes corresponding to the three levels of English language proficiency: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The training will last three (3) months, with classes held twice a week for 1,5 hours each session. Each class will be limited to 20 students to ensure the quality of teaching and learning. The first cohort will begin classes on September 1, 2026.
CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION
All African professionals working in peace, security and development environments who are interested in strengthening their English skills can participate in the program.
COST OF TRAINING
The training fees are set at Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand CFA Francs (250,000 FCFA) per level (beginner, intermediate or advanced), i.e. Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand CFA Francs (750,000 FCFA) for the three levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced), the three levels being able to be completed in one year.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Candidates can only apply online via the following address: https://www.cognitoforms.com/KentuckyStateUniversity2/EMPABBClassesForm
The processing fees for applications are set at ten thousand (10.000) FCFA, non-refundable and sent to the orange money number: 93029998.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION DATE AND TIMES
• Opening of applications: Friday, April 24, 2026.
• Application deadline: Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Classes will start at 17 p.m. and end at 18:30 p.m., Mali time.
POSSIBLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
English proficiency is a strategic skill that enhances career prospects, facilitates international cooperation, and enables better integration into a globalized professional environment. This program will therefore allow its participants to seize international professional opportunities; improve their employability in peace, security, and development environments; access information and knowledge available in English; engage in cooperation and partnerships with international actors; develop intercultural skills; and expand their mobility opportunities.
