A new co-op program between WorldQuant University (“WQU”) and Sazience Technology (“Sazience”) will give selected learners a chance to show their skills in real-time while they study. On Oct. 1, 2025, Sazience Technology launched the Sazience Academy in Douala, Cameroon, partnering with WQU to deliver advanced education in artificial intelligence, data science, and quantitative finance while providing professional experience.

The program is the first co-op partnership for WQU and demonstrates Sazience’s and WQU’s commitment to talent development. Sazience will provide stipends, laptops, workspaces, and mentoring to five participants identified by Sazience enrolled in WQU's Applied Data Science Lab, a 16-week certificate course focused on hands-on data and machine learning. While studying online in the Applied Data Science Lab, learners will work at Sazience offices and contribute to consultancy projects with real-world clients.

Participants in the Sazience Academy will be supervised by Joshua Nji, who earned a Master of Science in Financial Engineering from WQU in 2022. “As an alumnus who benefited from WorldQuant University's free programs, I am committed to guiding these learners toward real-world impact,” he said. “This Academy is allowing me to pay it forward, and I appreciate WQU and Sazience providing the connection.”

The inaugural eight-week program will conclude on Nov. 29, 2025, with a “hackathon,” a competitive event with the MIT African Graduate Association. After completing the Applied Data Science Lab, the five academy participants will then advance to WQU's accredited Master of Science in Financial Engineering program.

“This initiative positions Sazience as a launchpad for Africa’s brightest minds,” Sazience Executive Chairman Nana Baffour said. “As we expand and continue Sazience Academy, the result will be a talent pipeline to lead solutions in Cameroon and beyond.”

The Academy's opening ceremony featured addresses from Sazience leaders, including Cameroon Team Lead, Natalie Anou, and Director of Strategic Growth, Karim Harb, who outlined the initiative's role in fostering innovation. WQU representatives participated virtually.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to equipping professionals with the practical skills necessary to succeed in today’s economy,” WQU’s CEO John Endrud said. “Our goal is to provide industry-relevant coursework that will help prepare students for the workplace and expand access to opportunities around the world. We believe Sazience Academy aligns perfectly with this mission.”

WQU Senior Vice President Gbemi Disu, who oversees global partnerships, said the alliance can serve as a model for creative collaboration in the region. Already, Africa is WQU’s top market with 10,200 learners in 51 countries.

“Sazience Technology shares our vision and values,” Disu said. “Many higher education institutions pass over Africa. But we see untapped potential for growth and are excited to create additional programs that support talent development there.”

The inaugural Sazience Academy cohort includes five learners from diverse STEM backgrounds, including biomedical engineering, embedded systems, and computer science.

Sazience Technology, a Pan-African and Middle Eastern technology consulting firm headquartered in Dubai, has operations in Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cameroon, and Angola.

WQU is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the belief that talent is global, but opportunity is not. Offering free online education in advanced technical and quantitative fields, WQU empowers students in over 150 countries with industry-driven curricula and expert faculty to develop in-demand, future-ready skills. Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, WQU is committed to making quality education accessible worldwide. Learn more at www.wqu.edu.

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