Vice-chancellor struggles to open his new university

By Andrew Green. Dr John Apuru Akec wants to use universities to develop South Sudan, the world’s newest country, which became independent in July 2011. It is a noble and sensible goal. But first of all, the vice-chancellor will have to help make the nation’s higher education system work. In 2010 Akec (54) was appointed vice-chancellor of the brand new University of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, or UNBEG. Less than a year later, and following a decades-long war, South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan, and his university found itself in the north-west of a new country. But South Sudan’s university system has been in disarray ever since. Last year the government closed more than 30 privately owned colleges and universities. An official report from the government said that the institutions – overcrowded and lacking instructors – did not meet official standards. Read more...