Prof Tafah Edocat Edward, Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda talks on the new university's preparations for the 2011/2012 school year.

What is new about the University of Bamenda on the eve of the 2011/2012 academic year?

The new University of Bamenda, which will be built to become Cameroon’s university of the future, will begin the 2011/2012 academic year with three new schools (Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and the Institute of Commerce and Management). The three new schools are a plus to the existing two schools (the Higher Teachers Training College, ENS and the Higher Technical Teachers Training College, HTTTC). This means that the University of Bamenda is entering this academic year with five schools going operational.

The three new schools will go operational as soon as the Minister of Higher Education decides that the schools which have already been approved by the Prime Minister should open. Once that is done, we will launch applications for admissions.

What are the requirements for admission into the new faculties?

Admission into the Medical School and the Institute of Commerce and Management is supposed to be by competitive examinations, but we will exceptionally proceed this year by admitting students based on the study of their academic files.

What were the major decisions of the first Senate meeting of October 18?

The Senate is the highest academic organ in the set up of the University of Bamenda and the first session was all about charting a way forward for the institution. We tried to set rules and regulations for the university and recommended that HTTTC should operate an evening school to prepare students for HND and BTS; the way it happens in other higher State institutions. The recommendation is however, subject to the approval of hierarchy and the Council of the University of Bamenda.

Do you have enough lecturers and adequate infrastructure to begin the three new faculties this year?

We chose to begin with the Faculty of Medical Sciences because students will study virtually the same thing within the first three years. The first years will be more of theory and we can make do with lecturers of the Science Departments of ENS and other universities.

Meanwhile, we are expecting quite a good number of lecturers from those recently recruited by the Ministry of Higher Education among the 25,000 launched by the government for the Public Service. For infrastructure, we have identified lecture blocks to use for a start. We also appreciate the gracious offer of more learning space to the university by an elite of the region, Mr Yong Francis. The offer will accommodate quite a number of classrooms.

On which values will the University of Bamenda be built?

The University of Bamenda is around to train and build youths towards national development. Away from that, the university will be very involved in applied research. It is intended to be a university with 11 schools, faculties and a good number of professional schools that make the difference among the nation’s state universities.

What are the immediate challenges of the University of Bamenda as the youngest State university in Cameroon?

The major challenges include inadequate infrastructure and teaching staff. Contracts have however been awarded for the projects which, once completed, will give the university a sound base for academic work. We also expect the government to consider and allocate a substantial amount for infrastructural investments to take the University of Bamenda forward in the year 2012.

Where is the Vice Chancellor’s office located?

For the moment, the Vice Chancellor operates from Bambili because that is the only place where we could find accommodation.