[2] It was part of the Senegalese government's efforts to decentralise higher-education provision, seeking to encourage youth to stay in rural areas and to provide educational programmes appropriate to these contexts.

[6] Designed by architects IDOM of Bilbao, Spain[5]  the lecture building incorporates sustainable elements to cope with environmental challenges such as the rainy season[7] and scarce resources.

[7] This enables plants to grow on rafts,[11] including citronella, which is intended to minimize mosquito populations near the building[7] Waste water filters through a system using activated sludge.

The Alioune Diop University Teaching and Research Unit was announced as one of the six 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture winners.

(Quote from the winning team)[14]The building houses training and research facilities for applied sciences and information and communications technology.