The Minister of Higher Education Research, Science and Technology Badara A. Joof has lambasted the country’s “unproductive engineers”, accusing them of stalling national development. 

The minister made the statement as he launched the blueprint for the Gambia’s first science university.  

“The country needs field engineers, and not desktop engineers. The Ministry therefore is optimistic that the new University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) would address such skills and gaps which will ultimately curb the high unemployment rate of the nation,” Mr Joof said.

He added: “The new USET is currently receiving mentorship from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana in delivering the core engineering curriculum. 

“Also, De Montfort University (DMU) in the United Kingdom is embedding entrepreneurship training as part of the new university’s curriculum.”

He said that Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are responsible for the recruitment, teaching, examination and certification of the USET, adding that “classes have already started with about fifty students enrolled in the fields of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

“The University is soon to introduce new disciplines including a Bachelor’s degree in Geometrics and Chemical Engineering. 

“De Montfort University has already started the entrepreneurial clinics, the innovation hubs and the disruptive laps. 

“Simultaneously, DMU will deliver lectures in Computer Science, Architecture and Fine Arts. During the four years of studies in the various bachelors of science in engineering programmes, students of USET will undergo 12-18 months industrial attachment to enhance their practical skills.”

Mr Joof said his ministry has provided 12 scholarships at PhD levels in KNUST to potential lecturers of USET, likewise, DMU is also training teachers at PhD levels in the area of computer science, as well as Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) in Finland is offering similar trainings.  

According to him, the ministry target is to train at least 50 people, in the next five years at PhD levels in different engineering disciplines to strengthen human resource capacity of USET to gradually wean from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology lectures.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba