The Center for the Study of Information Sciences and Techniques (CESTI) is a regional school that serves most of the countries of West Africa. CESTI, which is an institute of Sheik Anta Diop University in the capital, Dakar, instructs journalism students from 10 French-speaking African countries and also from Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde.

The center awards a bachelor's degree in journalism in three years, and it also offers advanced training courses to practicing journalists. The center, which was established in 1965 with UNESCO support, graduated 590 students between 1970 and 1996. More than 1,000 people have taken part in the advanced training courses since 1980.

Students are admitted on a competitive basis, and there are 25 to 30 at the center in a given year. The first year of studies emphasizes general education, but by the third year the focus shifts to subjects related directly to the profession of journalism as well as hands-on experience in the news medium of the student's choice.

The center's mailing address is Centre d'Etudes des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information, UniversitИ Sheik Anta Diop, Dakar-Fann, Senegal. Tel: (221) 246-875. Fax: (221) 242-417. General information about the university is available by e-mail at info@ucad.sn. Additional information about the center is available at the French-language web site, RИseau ThИophraste, at http://www.theophraste.org/Guide/CESTI/Index.htm