JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has ordered the establishment of a specialised university in Juba to train military personnel and offer courses in defence, security and strategic studies.
In a directive dated October 14 and broadcast by state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), Kiir ordered the appointment of interim administrators, the preparation of a university charter and the allocation of land for the proposed institution.
The university is expected to provide academic instruction, conduct scientific research and offer specialised courses in science and technology, while strengthening the professional capabilities and operational readiness of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the country’s national army.
Before it can operate as a recognised university, the institution must obtain statutory approval and accreditation from the National Council for Higher Education. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and the interim administration are required to submit academic curricula, institutional plans and infrastructure details for assessment.
Kiir is to serve as the university’s chancellor, according to the directive.
The president ordered the Ministry of Finance and Planning to provide a start-up grant and allocate a recurring operational budget, but the directive did not specify the amount required or the projected cost of construction.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, working with the higher education ministry, was also instructed to engage international development partners and bilateral education programmes to seek support for campus development.
The directive did not specify when the university would open, whether it would admit civilian students alongside military and security personnel, or what admission requirements and academic programmes it would offer.
It cited the Higher Education Act of 2012 and constitutional provisions on access to higher education as part of the legal framework for the proposed institution.