‘Somanya University’ complete, pioneers to commence school 2020 academic year
The construction of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya Campus in the Eastern Region is complete and set to admit its pioneer students at the beginning of the 2020 academy year.
Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwasi Yankah, says interim management consisting of engineers and technicians are taking care of the maintenance of equipment and other technical issues at the University until such a time that substantive management takes over the University.
He said plans are underway to constitute an interim governing council in the medium term which will appoint Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and other key management staff for the running of the University before the first admission is open in August 2020.
Prof Kwasi Yanka made the disclosure when he toured the Somanya Campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development to ascertain the level of completion of the work.
He expressed satisfaction with the work done so far.
At the time of the visit, Messrs Contracta Construzioni Italia, the Italian company constructing the University has finished with the main construct and was more than 90% complete with installations.
The lecture hall block for the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences has 13 halls with a total seating capacity of 1,545, a video conference room with a seating capacity of 40, a computer Research Room with a seating capacity of 24. Offices for senior lecturers, students common room, telecom rooms, washrooms and stores.
The multi-purpose hall comprising of a 252 seater multifunctional Hall, control room, 100 seater dining room, cafe, kitchen, serving area, locker rooms, washrooms and stores were all ready for use at the time of visit.
A laboratory building for the School of Agriculture and Agro – Entrepreneurship Development also has seven laboratory rooms with a total seating capacity of 132, seven apparatus rooms, telecom rooms, washrooms and stores. Laboratory equipment have been procured awaiting installation.
An 80-bed capacity students’ hostel, faculty offices and administration block has also been completed and ready for use.
A five-bedroom residential facility for the Vice-Chancellor fully furnished is available for use while the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and key officers’ accommodation were also fully furnished for use.
There is also water supply and waste management system in place to make good use of wastewater among other electrical supply systems.
Professor Kwasi Yanka says the interim governing council when commissioned, will see to the successful admission of the pioneering students and management of the University.
He said this is the first phase of the construction. Indicating that, the second phase will comprise the development of two other faculties for the University.
He is optimistic that, the University will not deviate from its core mandate of training professionals for sustainable development and Environment.