Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology

Gambia and Morocco Sign Landmark MoU to Boost Higher Education, Research & Innovation On Monday, 1st July 2024, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, representing the Government of The Gambia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Honourable Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation of the Kingdom of Morocco. The MoU aims to enhance bilateral cooperation in higher education, scientific research, and innovation between the Republic of The Gambia and the Kingdom of Morocco. At the signing ceremony, Minister Pierre Gomez highlighted the longstanding relationship between Morocco and The Gambia dating back to the 1970s. He emphasised President Barrow's directive to strengthen cooperation with Morocco, focusing on providing quality education and training opportunities for Gambian youth domestically and internationally to bolster human capital. Minister Gomez announced a substantial boost for Gambian students, with Morocco awarding 120 scholarships for the 2024 academic year. These scholarships, prioritising fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as Health and Agriculture, are a testament to the concrete outcomes of the MoU. He noted that the Scholarship Advisory Board is actively shortlisting candidates for Master's and PhD programs in the Kingdom of Morocco, with plans to send the first batch of students next semester. He added that another round of applications will be invited to expand educational opportunities in subsequent semesters, covering various disciplines across public and private tertiary institutions. Given the recent advancements in Gambian tertiary education, including establishing the Civil Service University and the University of Education at The Gambia College, Prof Gomez described the MoU as timely. He thanked the Kingdom of Morocco for the significant partnership, opportunity and support rendered to The Gambia. The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, underscored the enduring cooperation and friendship between Morocco and The Gambia. He reiterated Morocco's commitment, under the directives of King Mohammed VI, to support The Gambia's National Development Plan 2023-2027 (Yiriwa) through bilateral agreements across multiple sectors. He highlighted the significant enrollment of Gambian students in Moroccan universities and emphasised collaborative research efforts over the past decade as indicators of robust inter-university cooperation. Mr. Ahmed Belhadj, the Charge D' Affairs of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to The Gambia, emphasised Morocco's policy of South-South Cooperation and its willingness to share expertise with African nations, including The Gambia.

Minister Gomez Tours Islamic Post-Secondary Institutions The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Professor Pierre Gomez, embarked on a comprehensive day-long familiarisation tour of Islamic post-secondary institutions and two conventional institutions within the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region. The tour, which took place on Tuesday, 11th June 2024, included visits to Bakoteh Production and Innovation Centre (BPIC); Hadigala School of Nursing; Al-Hikma University; Al-Ihsan University; and the College of Imam Bukhari. The primary objective of the visit was to gather first-hand information on the current status and challenges faced by these institutions. This information will be instrumental in formulating effective solutions to enhance teaching and learning, a key priority for the Minister. At the Bakoteh Production and Innovation Centre (BPIC), the Honourable Minister’s delegation was welcomed by Bakoteh Ward Councillor Lamin K. Jammeh and BPIC board members. Minister Gomez encouraged the management and students to remain committed, highlighting that education and skills training empower individuals to take charge of their destinies and to contribute to national development. As The Gambia approaches its 60th independence anniversary in 2025, the Minister emphasised that true independence should help citizens sustain themselves through education, skills, and innovation. He informed the students and management that it is due to this youth empowerment programme that  His Excellency President Adama Barrow launched the Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Fund and encouraged them to apply once applications are open. Councillor Lamin K. Jammeh noted that the tailoring centre has one male and 31 female students trained in weaving, wax making, printing, and tailoring, among other skills. Twenty-five of the students are already on scholarships through a Foundation; however, the remaining students would require the support of the Ministry to complete their programmes of study. Madam Ndey Yassin Touray, a lead trainer at BPIC, demonstrated practical lessons, and it was later revealed that she had developed a curriculum book on practical lessons. At Al-Hikma University, Al-Ihsan University, and the College of Imam Bukhari Islamic institutions, Minister Gomez applauded the Madrasah for their crucial role in national development. He assured the management that MoHERST would introduce a special scholarship package for the Madrasah students and work on mainstreaming STEM and TVET in their curricula to become vibrant. He, however, encouraged collaboration with NAQAA to improve quality standards. Dr Hagie K.T. Drammeh, President of Hadigala College School of Nursing, revealed that the institution currently enrols 1,280 students across its three campuses. It offers registered nursing (RN) and community nursing programmes to the Gambian people.

PRESS RELEASE – JUNE 12, 2024 Appointment of Dr Momodou Lamin Tarro as the New CEO of NAQAA The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro, currently the Registrar at the University of The Gambia, as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) effective July 1, 2024. Dr Tarro will succeed the late Dr Gibril Jaw, who passed away in November 2023. The Ministry is not only confident but also reassured that Dr Tarro will continue his predecessor's legacy of efficiency, dedication, and selflessness, ensuring continuous quality improvement in the tertiary and higher education sector. His extensive educational background and wealth of experience make him the perfect fit for this role. Born and raised in the Bakau Police Depot, now Fajara Barracks, Dr. Tarro began his education at the Bakau Community Centre Nursery School at Cape Point. He then attended Bakau Primary School and later Armitage High School, where he completed his GCE O’ Levels. He later pursued his GCE A’ Levels at Gambia High School. Dr Tarro's academic journey took him overseas in pursuit of higher education, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in History and International Relations from the University of Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College, from 1993 to 1997, and later a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Maiduguri in 1999. He also obtained a Master's degree in Higher Education Studies: Policy Analysis, Leadership, and Management from the University of Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2005 and a second Master's degree in Public Sector Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in 2006. Additionally, he received a certificate in University Administration from Vilnius University in Lithuania in 2016 and completed a PhD in Public Administration in 2020, with a thesis on Civil Service Reforms and Personnel Administration Systems and Practices in Civil Service Institutions of The Gambia. Dr. Tarro is a seasoned educationist with extensive experience in university management and administration. As one of the first administrators at the University of The Gambia, he served in various roles: Administrative Assistant (2001-2003), Administrative Officer (2004), Assistant Registrar (2005), Deputy Registrar, Admin (2008), Acting University Registrar (2010), and finally University Registrar (2014-present). During his tenure as University Registrar, he held multiple key positions, including Secretary to the University Senate, Secretary to the University Governing Council, and Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology eagerly anticipates the positive impact Dr. Tarro will bring to NAQAA. We congratulate him on his new role and wish him a smooth and productive tenure. More here:https://lnkd.in/eKTi-ZAA

Public Notice TURKEY SCHOLARSHIP 2024 The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology wishes to inform the general public that the Government of the Republic of Türkiye (Turkey) is offering scholarships for the benefit of Gambian candidates tenable in Türkiye Higher Education Institutions (Istanbul Technical University (ITU)) for the academic year 2024/ 2025: the programmes mainly in the sciences and social sciences. For more information on the list of Masters and PhD Programmes available please refer to the link: https://lnkd.in/d6Kyk3vU Masters with thesis, PhD and first education non-thesis programs for international candidates to apply refer to the link: https://lnkd.in/d2dsTqfU        Eligibility Criteria: ✓Applicants must be Gambian citizens; ✓Applicants for Masters and PhD must have at least 3.5 CGPA; ✓All applicants must submit Curriculum Vitae; identification card; certificates and academic transcripts; ✓Applicants in employment are urged to attach recommendation letter from their respective institutions;

NHDC Strategy Represent Gambia’s Commitment to Investing in our people – Minister Gomez   The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, has said that the National Human Capital Development Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030) represents a significant milestone in our commitment to investing in our greatest asset: our people. According to him, Africa is undergoing profound shifts in its economic fundamentals at the continental level, directly impacting human capital development. Africa’s aid architecture is evolving, and on the technology frontier, it is benefiting immensely. However, he said environmentally, urgent action is needed to address the consequences of climate change, food shortages, displaced populations and increasing poverty. Minister Gomez made these remarks today at the validation workshop of the National Human Capital Development Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030) held at the SDKJCC in Bijilo. The strategy aims to build a skilled, healthy, and productive workforce that drives innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development across all sectors of the economy. The Higher Education Minister said the ECOWAS Commission has been supporting member states to develop their national strategies aligned with their national development plans and the ECOWAS 2030 Integrated Regional Human Capital Development Strategy since the ECOWAS Regional Human Capital Development Strategy came into effective. In line with this, the Government of The Gambia has deemed it prudent to develop a National Human Capital Development Strategy (NHCDS) that builds on the findings of the McKinsey study on The Gambia’s human capital and harmonises all other sector policies and strategies focused on Human Capital Development. Minister Gomez emphasized that the National Human Capital Development Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030) is not a product of a single entity, but a result of extensive stakeholder consultations with MDAs, the private sector, and civil society. This collaborative approach ensures that the strategy is comprehensive, inclusive, and reflective of the needs and aspirations of The Gambia. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mr. Lamin Dampha, has informed the participants that the formulation of this strategy is a testament to their shared commitment to advancing the socio-economic development of The Gambia. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Yusupha Touray said the people's competencies would lead to improved production of any state. To improve on this, the country needs to have the desired health and education to contribute adequately to national development and society even beyond retirement age. “Therefore”, he reiterated, “all these conditions must be considered to ensure the people have the right productive capacity within a country”.

PRESS RELEASE Dated: 07th June, 2024 MoHERST Inaugurates Committee on The Gambia College Transformation into University of Education The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez on Friday 31st May, 2024 inaugurated the Committee on the Development of Implementation Plan for the Transformation of the Gambia College into the University of Education. The Committee comprised Educational Experts, Gambia College staff, UTG staff and it is led by Dr. Badara Alieu Senghore. The occasion which was well attended was graced by the Honourable Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madam Haddijatou Sey who gave her unflinching support to the establishment of the Committee. The duration of the task assigned to the Committee is Four (4) months by which the Plan is expected to be submitted to MoHERST. The overall objective of the Committee is to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for the establishment of the University of Education. The specific objectives include: 1. To develop a plan that identifies the university’s institutional and governance framework, including mentorship arrangements with timelines and budget implications; 2. To identify the capacity gaps and propose, with timelines, training programmes, and propose the development and review of the curricula to be implemented in the schools of both the University of The Gambia and University of Education; 3. To propose timelines for the transition arrangement between the University of The Gambia and University of Education on the resources and curricula of the two institutions; 4. To identify the University of Education’s infrastructural and resources requirements, review and update the designs, propose timelines for the refurbishing current buildings and building new structures, and propose required instructional materials; 5. To develop a costed budget for the implementation plan; 6. To identify potential sources of funding for the establishment and operation of the university. The establishment of the University of Education has been designed to ensure the provision of quality and relevant teacher education programmes and the training of world-class teachers and educators in The Gambia, who will serve the entire education sector (from ECD to institutions of higher learning). This is meant to create opportunities to address challenges around quality of teachers and education professionals and the prevailing teacher shortages and related competency gaps. It will also help widen access to education related programmes and strengthen The Gambia’s teacher education training programmes. ……..End……..

Representing the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Honourable Baboucarr Ousman Joof, said the establishment of the SIE fund is a significant milestone that holds immense promise for the empowerment of Gambian youth and the acceleration of sustainable economic growth through skills acquisition, innovation and business development. He highlighted that the SIE Fund is a beacon of hope aiming to enhance access to technical, innovative, and entrepreneurial skills and foster a dynamic ecosystem to drive innovation, productivity and prosperity. ‘’As the driving force behind economic growth, the Ministry of Finance plays a critical role in ensuring the success and sustainability of the SIE Fund by developing our youth and equipping them with the tools and resources they need to succeed”, Honourable Minister Joof said. The event was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Yusupha Touray, who gave brief background information on the SIE Fund and its significant role in the paradigm shift of our education system. He explained that the SIE Fund is one tool needed to respond to the specific needs of the paradigm shift. The PS described the SIE Fund as a mechanism that has come to teach the youth, in the form of TVET education, ‘how to fish, sell and stay afloat in their businesses’.  

In welcoming the guests, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, expressed the significance of the Fund as an alternative and hope for the youth. He said it will equip them with the right skills and support to take charge of their destiny by creating jobs. ‘’The education we are working on is functional, liberating the individual. Minister Prof Gomez reminded the audience that the government has started providing TVET to its citizens with free tuition and assured Gambians that two more centres will emerge as centres of excellence, one in Central River and the other in West Coast on Agribusiness and Fisheries, respectively. These centres will help feed the nation and turn our young men and women into job creators. He added that the Fund would ensure that the TVET centres practice what they preach. Minister Gomez thanked the dynamic team from the World Bank for supporting the Gambia in developing a Gambian model for this Fund in a Manual that clearly outlines how to support the youth through transparent and accountable disbursement mechanisms. He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to President Adama Barrow for providing this opportunity to the Gambian youth. The Honourable Minister expressed optimism that the Gambian youth will use this opportunity well and support the government’s agenda in building their country. Mrs Feyi Boroffice, Resident Representative for The Gambia, World Bank, said the SIE Fund would serve as a critical component of the new project: Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project, which covers Early Basic Education; TVET; and Social Protection activities. She stated that this Fund is an initiative that promises to be transformative for The Gambia’s future—thanked the government and the ministry for their unwavering commitment to this initiative and collaboration with the World Bank. ‘’Each young person in The Gambia holds tremendous potential and our role is to unlock that potential through targeted support ensuring that all young people regardless of their background or circumstances have the opportunity to succeed and contribute to the society”, Madam Boroffice stated. She highlighted that the SIE Fund is an innovative initiative to enhance access to quality and relevant TVET, including entrepreneurial skills development among the youth. According to the World Bank Resident Representative, the Fund addresses three key objectives facing the youth and the TVET sector with support to TVET centres, providing training grants and scholarships, and helping create startup support targeting sectors such as agriculture, tourism, engineering, and ICT. “By aligning TVET with market needs, the fund aims to enhance employability with job readiness among graduates, fostering vibrance and a future-oriented workforce”, she advised and commended MoHERST for enabling public and private TVET institutions to participate in this fund.

President Barrow Launches the Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund The President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, on Tuesday, 28th May 2024, officially launched the Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund. Speaking at the launching of the SIE Fund, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow said this innovative strategy is a component of the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity Project, which forms part of my government’s human capital formation initiatives and aims to train our young people to utilise technical skills learned from the classroom in suitable business ventures.    The Chief Policy Maker informed the audience that the SIE Fund is tactically situated within his government's tertiary and higher education transformation agenda and referenced the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (YIRIWA), 2023-2028, which indicated the prospect of increasing skills acquisition, employability, and job creation among Gambian youths and women. President Barrow highlighted that the Fund is also designed to consolidate the gains registered at the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), which now offers various Engineering programmes with embedded innovation and entrepreneurship components. With the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub established at USET through the collaboration and support of the World Bank, the President explained that this Hub will work closely with the SIE Fund to maximise the training of young Gambians and equip them with business skills, using the technical skills they have acquired from our institutions. He also pointed out that the Gambia National Qualifications Framework will be utilised in this endeavour to improve the quality levels of programmes that match our labour market requirements. ‘’The SIE Fund has been well thought through to address three TVET challenges that hover around the Innovation and Entrepreneurship ecosystem. One is the shortage of financial resources to implement the desired improvement initiatives in our TVET institutions. The second is the absence of resources to provide TVET tuition for students who need skills and competencies to fit into the labour market. The third is insufficient capital to start and scale up businesses”, said the President of the Republic of The Gambia. He later identified the three Windows associated with these targets as enhancement of TVET capacity by strengthening TVET institutions and training, promoting relevant skills development, and supporting entrepreneurship for successful businesses. There is a Manual developed, According to the President, to guide the implementation of these three Windows and to ensure that the Fund is inclusive, sustainable and relevant.

PRESS RELEASE Dated:  May 22nd , 2024 Subject: His Excellency President Adama Barrow Set to Launch the Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Fund The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology is thrilled to announce that His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, will officially launch the Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund. The Fund is a testament to the collaborative efforts of MoHERST, MoFEA, and the World Bank, united under the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project, demonstrating government’s shared commitment to the development of The Gambia. The main objective of the SIE Fund is to enhance access to technical, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills for Gambian youth while improving the relevance and quality of TVET education in the country. Additionally, a Manual has been developed to guide the implementation of the Fund throughout the project period. The event is scheduled for May 28th, 2024, at SDKJCC in Bijilo, starting at 10:00 AM.