The University of the Gambia (UTG) is an institution of higher education located in Kanifing, Banjul and Faraba Banta Campus the Gambia. UTG serves as the primary center for academic excellence and research in the Gambia.
The campus was founded in 1998 in Kotu-Kanifing, a suburb of Sere Kunda as the country's first public University.[5] It was not until March 1999 that the UTG started to offer courses, following a law passed by the National Assembly of the Gambia.[6] In 1999, 300 students are reported were enrolled.[7] In 2001, Yahya Jammeh's government conducted extrajudicial killings at the university.[8] In 2002, the number of academic staff was 44. In 2006, nearly 2000 students were enrolled.[7] By 2023, UTG has register 6719 students, the University successfully delivered 54 undergraduate programs, 22 master's programs and 4 PhD programs.[9]
The Gambian government has planned to create a new campus at Faraba Banta.[1][when?] Lot 1 of the Faraba Banta Campus was inaugurated on Match 2nd 2024, by the President of the republic of the Gambia, Adama Barrow[10] Lot 1 comprised of the four schools Business and Public Administration, Information and Communication Technology, Education and Arts and Science.[10] These Schools can accommodate over 3500 students and while the library building named after the late Alieu Badara Joof former vice president,[11] has a capacity of 1200.[10] Lot 2 which includes the Faculty of Law, School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, and the Chancery building is expected to be inaugurated in December 2025 by the president of the republic of the Gambia Adama Barrow.[12] The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology has unveiled plans for phase 3 of the UTG Faraba Banta Campus. Lot 3 is expected to house the school of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, strengthening the country's capability to train health personnels.[13]
Growth and Development.
By 2002, academic enrollment had increase along with staff numbers; by 2006, UTG had nearly 2000 students, illustrating rapid expansion in both programs and infrastructure .
Role in public health
On October 11, 2012, it was reported that the university has started two master's degree programs in public health in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Springfield and the University of Iowa. According to Vaccine News Daily: "Rex Kuye, the head of the public health department, said that the two programs were conceived of locally to address growing health concerns in the Gambia. [citation needed]The Gambia has made many public health strides in the last two decades. The nation was certified as polio free in 2004 and has had no confirmed polio cases since that time. The success in the battle against polio resulted from high political commitment and routine polio immunization coverage of more than 90 percent since 1990, according to the Foroyaa Newspaper."[14]
↑ GDN Working Paper Series. Micro-Financing as a Means of Reducing Extreme Poverty: The Case of Senegal and the Gambia. By Aloysius Ajab Amin and Tharcisse Ntilivamunda. (October 2009). p iii (p 3) and Mr Sillah's C.V. (see also UTG Faculty
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