Three days to train the decision-makers of tomorrow. This is the challenge taken up by the ISM Group with the 2nd edition of Madiba Leadership Week, which opened on April 14 in Dakar. The institute has made a clear choice: to fully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the curriculum of future leaders. This event aims to connect students to the realities of power and information. After a first day dedicated to diplomacy and regional security, the focus of Wednesday, April 15, naturally emerged: Communication, Media, and Artificial Intelligence.

"Current events dictate this theme." The tone is direct for the Director of the ISM Group, Mamadou Diouf. "At Madiba, we train practitioners specializing in diplomacy, geostrategy, territorial governance, peace and security. Our focus is on practical training," he explains.

AI at the heart of debates on journalism

A panel discussion organized under the theme "Information in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" opened a debate on the transformations in content production. Addressing the students, the speakers shared their experiences in a context where AI is revolutionizing practices: accelerated production, new risks of disinformation, but also opportunities for analysis.

“Today, it’s easy to have an article produced by AI in seconds. But who owns that article? And what happens to public trust?” asks one of the panelists, Pape Kane, a journalist and writer invited to the event. Between saving time and potential abuses, everyone agrees on one point: ethics remains the only reliable guide in a rapidly changing environment.

Strategic pathways for elite profiles

The Madiba Leadership Week targets specific programs within the ISM Group: political science, communication, and media. The objective is to train individuals capable of understanding and acting in complex environments where information is central.

The students involved in the organization welcome this initiative: "This week allows us to exchange with professionals and better understand the field. The themes are directly related to our fields of study, especially AI which is already impacting our jobs," explains Steve Mbodzi, a political science student.

In this context, the integration of AI appears as a pedagogical necessity to avoid training leaders disconnected from current realities.