@ARTICLE{10.21494/ISTE.OP.2024.1154, 

TITLE={Integration of endogenous construction techniques and materials into knowledge institutions in French-speaking West Africa}, 
  
AUTHOR={Sokhna R. NDIAYE
, Pape M. KANE
, Alyssa K. BARRY, }, 
	
JOURNAL={Science, Technology, Development}, 
	
VOLUME={4}, 

NUMBER={Issue 1}, 
	
YEAR={2024}, 

URL={https://openscience.fr/Integration-of-endogenous-construction-techniques-and-materials-into-knowledge}, 
	
DOI={10.21494/ISTE.OP.2024.1154}, 
	
ISSN={2752-6879}, 
	
ABSTRACT={This study investigates the integration of indigenous knowledge and practices within the curricula of educational institutions in Francophone West Africa, focusing on architecture and building materials. Acknowledging a duality between modernity and tradition, our research employs a qualitative approach, combining literature analysis, interviews with domain professionals, and case studies. We highlight the wealth of traditional knowledge and its potential to enrich the sciences of contemporary architecture and construction techniques while recognizing the obstacles to their integration linked to educational structures, perceptions of science, development, and a notion of modernity largely inherited from the West. These barriers also appear as inflexible educational policies, undervaluation of local knowledge, and a certain resistance to change within academic institutions. There is a growing awareness of the need to integrate indigenous knowledge in this sector to promote sustainable development and innovation. This suggests a re-evaluation of programs and curricula by fully associating indigenous knowledge with contemporary challenges. It is crucial that knowledge institutions recognize the complementarity between indigenous approaches and contemporary technologies. This would allow the shaping of a generation that is technically competent but also culturally sensitive, ready to draw on this indigenous knowledge to devise solutions tailored to local realities. Ultimately, the implementation of reformed programs will enrich architectural discourse and encourage the creation of spaces that reflect a commitment to sustainability and cultural relevance. Our discussion offers insights into these dynamics and suggests avenues for the effective integration of indigenous knowledge into education and professional practice, aiming to promote an architectural development that is culturally rich, ecologically sustainable, and economically viable.}}