Amoud University

About

Amoud University (Somali: Jaamacadda Camuud) is a comprehensive public university, located in the city of Borama in Somaliland. The university started in 1998 with 66 students in two faculties (Education and Business Administration), and three teachers. It has a student population of 5,111 enrolled in 14 faculties/schools, 238 teaching staff. The first batch of medical graduates came out in June 2007 and their final exams were supervised by King's College of London, United Kingdom, which provides the curriculum and teaching assistance to the Amoud University College of Health Sciences.

The university operates according to a semester system, and the academic year begins in September and ends in July. There is a brief one-month break after the first semester, and two months of holiday at the end of the academic year.

As of 2020/2021, Amoud University has a student population of 5,111, and includes students from all Somali-speaking territories. The university's teaching staff consists of 238 instructors.

As of 2020/2021, the university consists of fourteen faculties/schools offering postgraduate degrees, bachelor's degrees, as well as two-year diploma and certificate programs. Each faculty or school formulates its academic program within the university's general regulations.

The idea to establish Amoud University came from four intellectuals working in the Gulf in 1994 and was formally proposed in a workshop held in Borama on August 6, 1996. The workshop agreed to the proposal and adopted a resolution for the establishment of the university by 1997. Sulaiman Ahmed Gulaid served as the first president. Amoud University started its first admission examination in September 1997 and selected 66 students to undergo a nine-month intensive English course. The university commenced its undergraduate program on 4 November 1998 and admitted the first freshman class. Amoud University was formally launched in 1998 and is registered as a non-governmental, non-profit making institution. Amoud is an institute which is deeply rooted within the local community due to primary support for the establishment of Amoud coming from community elders, leaders, business people, concerned citizens and local non-governmental organizations. In 2003, Amoud University signed a project agreement with the EC/DANIDA/CfBT for teacher training in the Education department. The two-year Diploma Education Program was funded by EC and DANIDA through UNESCO and CfBT.

The university consists of fourteen faculties/schools which offer master's degrees, Bachelor's degrees, two years diploma and certificate programs:

The university's main campus is in Amoud Valley which is located 4.5 kilometers east of Borama, Somaliland, on the grounds of the former Amoud Secondary School which was established in 1952. The faculties on the campus are as follows:

Faculty of Education Faculty of Business and Public Administration Faculty of Computing and ICT Faculty of Agriculture and Environment Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Economics and Political Science

The College of Health Sciences is situated in Borama town, west of Rays Hotel and next to the Allaale Hospital, where medical students perform their practical sessions. The faculties on the campus are as follows:-

School of Dentistry School of Nursing and Midwifery School of Medicine and Surgery School of Public Health School of Laboratory Technology School of Pharmacology

Admission to the university is based on competitive examination. Candidates who have obtained an adequate passing grade in their secondary school exit tests are eligible for the admission examination that is held each July. Candidates from abroad who have matriculated under different educational systems are evaluated by the Admissions Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.