University of the Gambia facts for kids
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| Latin: Universities in the Gambia | |
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Motto in English
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Knowledge Truth Development |
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| Type | Public |
| Established | 1999 |
| Chancellor | President Adama Barrow |
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Academic staff
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313 (2017) |
| Students | 6000 approx (in September 2017) |
| Location | , |
| Campus | Kal Jawara Memorial Block (MDI), Kanifing South, Sere Kunda) Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (Banjul) Gambia College (Brikama) |
| Affiliations | St. Mary's College of Maryland Alliance française Saint Mary's University (Halifax) |
| Website | http://www.utg.edu.gm/ |
The University of the Gambia (UTG) is a top learning place in Sere Kunda, the biggest city in the Gambia. It is where students go to get higher education after finishing high school. The university helps young people in The Gambia learn important skills for their future jobs and to help their country grow.
Contents
History of UTG: How It Started
The University of the Gambia first opened its doors in 1998 in Kotu-Kanifing, a part of Sere Kunda. However, it was not until March 1999 that students could actually start taking classes. This happened after a special law was passed by the country's government.
When it first began in 1999, about 300 students joined the university. By 2006, this number had grown a lot, with nearly 2000 students enrolled. The government of The Gambia has plans to build an even newer campus in a place called Faraba Banta to help more students learn.
Schools at the University
The University of the Gambia has many different schools, each focusing on a special area of study. These schools help students learn about various subjects.
Here are some of the schools you can find at UTG:
- School of Agriculture and Environment Sciences (in Brikama)
- School of Arts and Sciences (in Faraba)
- School of Business and Public Administration
- School of Education
- Faculty of Law
- School of Journalism and Digital Media (in 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 (in Farafenni)
Degrees You Can Earn
At the University of the Gambia, students can earn different types of degrees. A degree is a special certificate you get when you finish a course of study at a university.
The main types of degrees offered are:
- Bachelor's Degrees: These are usually the first degrees students earn after about four years of study. They include:
- Bachelor in Education (for becoming a teacher)
- Bachelor of Law (LLB) (for studying law)
- Bachelor of Medicine / Surgery (MBChB) (for becoming a doctor)
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting (for managing money)
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (for working with computers)
- Bachelor of Science in Environment Science (for studying nature)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Midwifery (for healthcare)
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health (for community health)
- Master's Degrees: These are advanced degrees that students can get after earning a Bachelor's degree. They usually take one or two more years of study. They include:
- Master of Arts in African History
- Master of Law (LLM)
- Master of Science in Public Health
University Teachers
The university has many dedicated teachers, also known as lecturers, who help students learn. Some of the notable teachers who have taught at the University of the Gambia include:
- PaSara Drammeh, who teaches about IT.
- Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof, who taught history.
- Musu Bakoto Sawo, who teaches about human rights law.
- Bukhari M.S. Sillah, who teaches economics.
- Saja Taal, who teaches political science.
Helping Public Health
The University of the Gambia also plays an important role in improving public health in the country. In 2012, the university started two special Master's degree programs in public health. They worked with other universities from the United States to create these programs.
These programs were designed to help solve health problems in The Gambia. For example, The Gambia has done a great job in fighting polio, a serious disease. The country was even declared polio-free in 2004, meaning there were no new cases. This success was due to strong efforts and widespread vaccinations, where over 90 percent of people received their polio shots since 1990. The university's health programs continue to help keep people healthy.
