University of Dschang

De University of Dschang dey locate insyd de town of Dschang, West Cameroon, about 425 kilometers northwest of Yaoundé. E get ein roots insyd three agricultural training schools, wey e evolve from agricultural institution to university insyd 1993.

Insyd 1977, de Government of Cameroon authorize de creation of university centers for locations insyd Cameroon. De University Center for Dschang (UCD), na dem create am by Presidential Decree No. 77/108 of April 28, 1977. Insyd May 1978, ENSA (Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique) insyd Yaounde den de Institute for Agricultural Technologies insyd Dschang na dem incorporate am into de UCD. Na dem transfer ENSA to Dschang as soon as possible. Na dem later merge dese two institutions into single academic entity "De National Institute of Rural Development".

Insyd 1979–80, de US government, for exchanges plus de Cameroon government, decide make dem provide assistance to UCD. Insyd 1981, na dem select de University of Florida for competitive basis make e design dat assistance, thru wat na dem name de Agricultural Education Project.

Insyd 1993, dem transform de UCD into de University of Dschang.

History

Insyd 1979, de governments of Cameroon den de United States agree make e build fresh academic institution insyd Cameroon. Na de time wen de government of Cameroon decide make e place academic institutions for key corners of de country insyd. Since na der already be academic institutions insyd de commercial capital (Douala), de political capital (Yaoundé), insyd de north insyd Ngaundere, de fresh institutions na dem place am insyd de west (for Dschang) den insyd de south west (for Buea).

De US government commit US$44 million (mix of grant den loan) make e fund de Dschang project, den de Cameroon government make contribution of about US$74 million wey cover de salaries of Cameroonian staff den infrastructure. Belgium contribute about US$8 million. Na dem split de US contribution between two independent programs, one for infrastructure den de oda for academic programs den training. Na dem subcontract de former to construction company from Senegal. Dem award de latter to de University of Florida (UF) insyd 1982, plus small sub-contract to de Florida A&M University. Na de UF team be led by Joe Busby wey, insyd 1987, Charlie Eno succeed am wey he lead de team til 1989, wen na he be succeeded by Peter Hartmann wey run de project til 1992.

Na de institute ein Director General be Rene Owona. (Later wen de institute cam turn university center, dem upgrade de Director General title to dat of Rector). By 1990, Owona pull out of de UCD den Minister of Commerce dem appoint. Upon ein departure, na dem replace Owona by Professor Jean Mfoulu wey na dem transfer am from de Ministry, wer na he be Director for Higher Education. Na ein primary base be de University of Yaoundé, wer na he be professor of sociology. Mfoulu hold PhD from Boston University.

History

Insyd 1979, de governments of Cameroon den de United States agree make e build fresh academic institution insyd Cameroon. Na de time wen de government of Cameroon decide make e place academic institutions for key corners of de country insyd. Since na der already be academic institutions insyd de commercial capital (Douala), de political capital (Yaoundé), insyd de north insyd Ngaundere, de fresh institutions na dem place am insyd de west (for Dschang) den insyd de south west (for Buea).

De US government commit US$44 million (mix of grant den loan) make e fund de Dschang project, den de Cameroon government make contribution of about US$74 million wey cover de salaries of Cameroonian staff den infrastructure. Belgium contribute about US$8 million. Na dem split de US contribution between two independent programs, one for infrastructure den de oda for academic programs den training. Na dem subcontract de former to construction company from Senegal. Dem award de latter to de University of Florida (UF) insyd 1982, plus small sub-contract to de Florida A&M University. Na de UF team be led by Joe Busby wey, insyd 1987, Charlie Eno succeed am wey he lead de team til 1989, wen na he be succeeded by Peter Hartmann wey run de project til 1992.

Na de institute ein Director General be Rene Owona. (Later wen de institute cam turn university center, dem upgrade de Director General title to dat of Rector). By 1990, Owona pull out of de UCD den Minister of Commerce dem appoint. Upon ein departure, na dem replace Owona by Professor Jean Mfoulu wey na dem transfer am from de Ministry, wer na he be Director for Higher Education. Na ein primary base be de University of Yaoundé, wer na he be professor of sociology. Mfoulu hold PhD from Boston University.

Building de university for collaboration

Na der be four-year delay for building construction, dey impose serious strains for all program components – student housing, library, administrative facilities, den research facilities.

Na another source of strain be de way na dem program de training of faculty. During de duration of de project, over fifty Cameroonian professionals receive graduate training. Dem dey send so many (almost half of UCD staff) for long-term studies put huge burden for de faculty den students wey remain. De strong collaborative spirit of de faculty wey dey remain – American, Belgium, Cameroonian, den French - den de use to teaching assistants from external institutions see UCD thru de difficult time. Dem plete dema overseas training, de returnees take up positions as faculty members.

Upgrade

By 1993, na dem upgrade de UCD to full-fledged university wey dem give de name, Dschang University. E get over 800 academic staff den 14,000 students.

Regional role

E soon cam turn obvious dat na de institution dey play regional role, particularly for training, buh sanso for ein research collaborations. Neighboring countries, like Chad den de Democratic Republic of Congo, na dem dey send students to Dschang. Dem increasingly involve insyd regional training den collaborative research plus international agencies like IITA, ILRI (formerly ILCA), den ICIPE. Dschang ein bilingual capacity be major asset.