Amoud University

During the tragic collapse of the Somali State, education was one of the main casualties. Schools and other educational facilities were either destroyed, damaged or simply abandoned as a result insecurity and unfortunately education ceased to function at all levels. As a direct consequence of this tragedy school going children and University students saw their future suddenly blocked by cruel circumstances beyond their control. This category of Somali Society has been particularly vulnerable to the unscrupulous acts of those who have played havoc and destruction on every society.

With no educational and employment opportunities at their disposal a large number of youth turned to criminal activities and many others emigrated to western Europe and North America under the pretext of seeking higher education. It is the considered opinion of many social observers and educationists in Somaliland that the culture of peace that is taking roots throughout the country cannot be fully sustainable until and unless the problems of idle and desperate youth are realistically addressed primarily through the educational system including higher education.

In order to assist Somaliland Society in addressing problems of youth and to compensate partially for lost manpower needed for the reconstruction of this destroyed society Amoud University have been established. And became the first institution of higher education after the collapse of the Somali State and served as a source of psychological inspiration for all the Somaliland people wherever they were. Other institutions of higher learning followed the Amoud Model.

The dream

Deeply moved by the mounting problems facing the young generations in this country and fully aware of the urgent need to put them back into the productive cycle of society, a group of concerned Somalilanders working in the Gulf States decided to contribute to the recovery process in their country by helping to establish an institution of higher education in Amoud, Awdal region. This area is historically well-known for its supportive attitude towards education and for community-based self-help schemes.

When this group tested the idea in the local community, the reaction was an overwhelming, enthusiasm although there were some skeptics the educated who doubted the viability and timing of the proposal. Eminent community elders, who in a sense constitute a special asset of the region, were electrified by the idea and geared up for a battle for education against all odds as they have done so many times in the past!!!.

The challenge: turning the dream in to reality

After the initial euphoria all those who were involved-including community leaders, concerned citizens, business people, and intellectual ? become fully aware of the magnitude and enormity of the project in the context of a nation and region just emerging from years of unbelievable civil strife, upheavals and anarchy.

On August 6, 1996, a workshop was held in Borama and the basic issues pertinent to the realization of the project were finalized. The participants of the workshop were community leaders, professionals? business people, and concerned citizens ? men and women.

Workshop outcome

At the end of week-long deliberation the following were the outcome of the workshop;

?        The adoption of the idea of establishing an institution of higher education at Amoud by the name of ?Amoud University?

?        Agreement on the nature of the institution. It was agreed that the proposed institution should be community-owned University that is national in character, satisfy the admission requirements and one that maintains and strives for high academic and intellectual standards

?        The establishment of a Board of Trustees and a Technical preparatory Committee to bearing the idea to fruition.

Objectives set for Amoud University

The following were set as the initial objectives of the university

1.      To restore hope and a sense of direction for the younger generation and thus reduce their involvement in anti-social activities.

2.      To set an example for other regions as a practical demonstration that the culture of peace is productive and the culture of war is destructive.

3.      To pioneer a tradition of higher education in the country and train a new breed of suitably trained professionals.

4.      To attract Somaliland professionals living abroad back to their country and to create employment and research opportunities for the presently unemployed professionals in the country.

5.      To influence and guide the system of education in the country

6.      To provide an alternative and opportunity for those youth who are being attracted to foreign countries under the pretext of seeking higher education.

7.      To create favorable cooperative environment and trained manpower basis to attract Universities or companies in foreign developed countries to invest in joint ventures and thus create possibilities for technology transfer to and development in the country.

Amoud University:

 A vehicle for Peace, Development and Symbol of Hope

The present and future impact of Amoud University is the Somali context is self-evident and cannot be overestimated. Within the first months of its existence the news of the birth of Amoud University had an amazing reawakening effect on a public devastated by a series of conflicts and mis governence and helped energize the whole system of education. The initial windfall of its establishment can be summarized in the following few lines:

1.      Amoud University project unified communities in a cause everyone, including the expatriate community thought was beyond their reach. The involvement of various segments of society in the same project acted as a unifying and cohesive factor that reduced the clan and political differences resulting from years of rivalry, anarchy and internal strife. It served as an example and a model to be emulated and aspired to by other regions and in the rest of our country.

2.      The success of the project quickly restored a great measure of hope and pride among the people and provided much-needed self confidence after years of helplessness and desperation. For the communities involved, the establishment of Amoud University becomes a watershed and clear demarcation line between two eras ? the end of the era of war and destruction and the beginning of the era of peace, reconciliation and development.

3.      In particular, Amoud University, while in existence for a short period of time, has already had a tremendous psychological impact on youth in this country by restoring hope after a full decade of despair. Idle and desperate secondary school graduates as well as those presently enrolled in schools have suddenly started to study harder in order to pass the annual examinations. Applications for admission are being received regularly from all over the country and some overseas locations. Many of those who were intending to go to foreign countries (often illegally) under the pretext of seeking higher education are now changing their minds and hearts and see Amoud as a far less expensive alternative.

4.      The country, with insufficient resources and under pressure to provide trained and qualified teachers for the rapidly expanding educational system, has found Amoud University to be a very valuable ally and a reliable partner since the faculty of Education at Amoud will annually produce trainer and qualified secondary school teachers beginning in early 2003. The education system will henceforth concentrate on the training of primary school teachers, both pre-service and in-service.

5.      Qualified professionals inside the country, particularly educators, consider Amoud University as valuable source of future source of employment and a centre for much-needed national research activities. Equally important, some Somalilanders with advanced degrees who are currently unemployed in Europe and North America are considering returning home to teach at Amoud. More than ten  lecturers have already returned and have taken up teaching positions and many others have expressed serious interest. As Amoud University expands its programs it is expected that more professionals will return and teach here, a positive development for all involved parties.

            Facts about Amoud University

                    Location

•         Faculty of Education                                                          (1998)
•         Faculty of Business & Public Administration             (1998)
•        Faculty of Medicine & Surgery                                       (2001)
•        Faculty of Natural Resources (Agriculture And Environmental and Protection)                              (2004)

Enrolment is about 600 students but growing rapidly. The lecturers are almost 65. The faculties of Education and Business Administration have started graduating students annually starting from July 2003. Till now three batches have graduated from the University with the total of 143 graduates. The University also carries out Diploma Programmes.