University of the Gambia

The University of the Gambia (UTG) is an institution of higher education located in Sere Kunda, the largest city in the Gambia.

History
The campus was founded in 1998 in Kotu-Kanifing, a suburb of Sere Kunda. It was not until March 1999 that the UTG started to offer courses, following a law passed by the National Assembly of the Gambia. In 1999, 300 students are reported to have been enrolled. As of 2002, the number of academic staff was 44. In 2006, nearly 2000 students were enrolled. The Gambian government has planned to create a new campus at Faraba Banta.

Schools
The UTG is composed of several schools (or faculties) :


 * School of Agriculture and Environment Sciences, Brikama
 * School of Arts and Sciences, Faraba
 * School of Business and Public Administration
 * School of Education
 * Faculty of Law
 * School of Journalism and Digital Media, Kanifing
 * School of Engineering and Architecture
 * School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences
 * School of Information Technology and Communications
 * School of Graduate Studies and Research
 * UTG Digital Campus
 * UTG North Bank Campus, Farafenni

Degrees
The qualifications that can be attained include :


 * Bachelor in Education
 * Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies
 * Bachelor of Arts in Christian Religious Studies
 * Bachelor of Law (LLB)
 * Bachelor of Medicine / Surgery (MBChB)
 * Bachelor of Science in Accounting
 * Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
 * Bachelor of Science in Biology
 * Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
 * Bachelor of Science in Communications & Media
 * Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
 * Bachelor of Science in Economics
 * Bachelor of Science in Environment Science
 * Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
 * Bachelor of Science in Management
 * Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Midwifery
 * Bachelor of Science in Physics
 * Bachelor of Science in Planning and Design
 * Bachelor of Science in Political Science
 * Bachelor of Science in Public Health
 * Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
 * Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications & Wireless Technologies
 * Master of Arts in African History
 * Master of Arts in French
 * Master of Law (LLM)
 * Master of Science in Climate Change and Education (WASCAL Master Research Program)
 * Master of Science in Public Health

Academic staff
Notable past and present lecturers at the UTG include the following:
 * Prof. Herbert Robinson, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Gambia
 * Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro, Registrar of the university of the gambia
 * Dr. Aidara, Human Resource Director
 * Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, Director of Student Affairs
 * Mr. Mbakeh Camara Director of International Relations
 * Dr. Lamin B. Ceesay, Acting Head of School of Business & Public Administration
 * Dr. Sidat Yaffa, Director of WASCAL


 * PaSara Drammeh, IT Manager
 * Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof, lecturer of history.
 * Musu Bakoto Sawo, lecturer in international human rights law and winner of the "2020 African of the Year Award" from Daily Trust.
 * Bukhari M.S. Sillah, lecturer of economics.
 * Saja Taal, lecturer in political science.

Role in public health
On October 11, 2012, it was reported that the university has started two master's degree programs in public health in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Springfield and the University of Iowa. According to Vaccine News Daily: "Rex Kuye, the head of the public health department, said that the two programs were conceived of locally to address growing health concerns in the Gambia. The Gambia has made many public health strides in the last two decades. The nation was certified as polio free in 2004 and has had no confirmed polio cases since that time. The success in the battle against polio resulted from high political commitment and routine polio immunization coverage of more than 90 percent since 1990, according to the Foroyaa Newspaper."