USET Came In With Existence Of Center Of Excellence-Says USET Registrar
The Registrar of University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), Alieu Badara Saine, has noted that the institution came in with the existence of what is called a center of excellence which was identified for the then,Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) to become an emerging center, at the same time, it was a double edge word, with a thinking that was used, meaning that as it is an emerging center, it also has to carry out the features of transformation of University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology.
He noted that the institution was initiated with the vision to be one of the leading universities in Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation for Entrepreneurship in Africa and the vision as a public institution that offers degree programs in science and engineering likewise skills development leading to certificates and diploma. The mission is to consolidate the institution’s position as a center of excellence with distinct and relevant technical programs for entrepreneurship.
Mr.Saine, made these statements in a follow-up interview with the VOD, on its recent third general students’ orientation and matriculation of 57 students for class 2023 College of Engineering students, where he put forward that USET been University, was created from the transformation of former Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI).
He said what necessitated the transformation to University had to do with the long term vision to ensure that the youth of the country have a future in their own country, especially a country that is endowed with a youthful population of about 64%.
He noted that this is the only beckon of hope for the Gambia, a country that is not endowed with, apart from its human capital thatsuch a country needs to work very hard to utilize its skills and potentials of its population toensure the country has a sustainable decent livelihood as any other country would do.
He noted that the Kwame Nkurumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at Ghana which focus on curriculum and the De Montfort University of Leicester, UK which focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation were the two universities identified to work with USET in terms of mentorship in the two various areas.
He said it gives opportunity to students who graduated for almost 15 to 20 years without having opportunity to study locally at USET to have the same quality degree one would expect for somebody from Oxford University or any her university.
“Out of national interest, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology had the goals of transforming our tertiary education to higher education and with the appointment of the late Vice President, AlieuBadaraJoof who had spearheaded boldly with strong commitment and vigor to champion this course of transformation. That is why USET is where it is today,” he acknowledged.
He advanced that when the late VP handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor, Professor Pierre Gomez, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, whom he confirmed that is also doing marvelously well to ensure that nothing is deviated from the course of the former late Vice President.
He commended that Professor Gomez is very much committed in staring the affairs of technical and vocational education to the levels where Gambia needs to produce home grown engineers for the development of the country.
