From April 29 to May 4, 2026, a delegation of lecturers and staff from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) visited Senegal as part of the Erasmus+ KA171 programme, which promotes academic exchange and cooperation with partner countries outside the European Union.
During the first days of the visit, meetings were held at École Nationale des Arts et Métiers de la Culture (ENAMC), the National School of Arts and Culture. LMTA and ENAMC have already established cooperation agreements and discussed further opportunities for collaboration. Plans are currently underway for lecturer and student exchange mobilities to Lithuania later this year.
At ENAMC, LMTA lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Simas Gabrielius Sapiega delivered a lecture on the development of listening skills within the context of the European music tradition, while also taking into account students’ strong sense of rhythm rooted in African musical practices. The lecture attracted considerable interest among students and faculty members.
The delegation also visited Université Gaston Berger in the city of Saint-Louis, where meetings were held with lecturers and administrators from the Civilisations, Religions, Arts et Communication (CRAC) department. Participants were introduced to local music and audiovisual study programmes and discussed possibilities for future academic cooperation.
A meeting was also held with Professor Mamadou Abdoul Diop, Vice-Rector responsible for Research, Student Integration, Community Services, and Partnerships. During the discussions, both institutions agreed to prepare and sign an interinstitutional bilateral agreement in the near future, with the first exchange visits expected to take place in Lithuania soon.
The programme additionally included visits to École des Sables, a renowned contemporary dance institution with which LMTA is considering future cooperation projects. These include the development of a joint master’s study programme and participation in African contemporary dance biennale initiatives organised by École des Sables.
The lecturers and representatives of the Lithuanian music and theatre community returned with valuable professional experience, inspiration, and new perspectives that will enrich future teaching practices and strengthen mutual understanding between lecturers and students from different continents and cultural backgrounds.
