Universities and colleges
Maakhir University, Badhan (now Somali National University, Badhan campus)
Maakhir University opened in Badhan, Sanaag, in April 2010, founded by people from the region living abroad with support from the Puntland government. Kuwait pledged money for its buildings in 2010, its first graduation was in December 2014, and a seven-storey building was finished in September 2018. In September 2019 it became a branch of the Somali National University.
In short
Maakhir University, in Somali Jaamacadda Maakhir, is a university in Badhan, in eastern Sanaag (Wikipedia). It was created in 2010 by people from the region living abroad, with support from the Puntland government (same source). In September 2019 it became a branch of the Somali National University (Jaamacadda Ummadda Soomaaliyeed) (same source).
Why it was founded
Its stated aim was affordable higher education for people in the region and elsewhere in the country (Wikipedia). The diaspora from Sanaag has been its main sponsor. Its members bought equipment, vehicles and office supplies abroad and sent them to Badhan, and helped pay for a new campus (same source).
Timeline
From Wikipedia's account (Wikipedia):
- April 2010: the university opened. The first year ended with a ceremony in November.
- December 2010: Kuwait committed $10 million to build Garoowe International Airport and Maakhir University.
- April 2014: Kuwait and Puntland signed the building agreement in Dubai. The money came from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and Puntland's representative to Kuwait, Faisal Hawar, signed for Puntland.
- December 2014: first graduation ceremony.
- September 2018: a new seven-storey building was finished. Puntland President Abdiweli Gaas visited.
- September 2019: it became the Somali National University's branch in Puntland.
Today
The Somali National University lists Badhan in Sanaag as one of its five campuses, with Shabelle, Gaheyr and KM4 in Mogadishu and Caabudwaaq in Galgaduud (SNU, history). For the national university's full story, see Somali universities one by one.
Iqra Institute for Higher Education, Badhan
Badhan also has the Iqra Institute for Higher Education, set up in 2008 (Wikipedia). It was founded to give poor young people in Sanaag vocational training and short courses in management and languages, so they could earn a living (same source). Its founders pointed to the lack of higher education in the region, which pushed young people to move elsewhere to study (same source). It teaches on its main campus in Badhan and belongs to the Union of Somali Institutes (same source).
Read more
Sources
- Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- SNU, history · snu.edu.so
- Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
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