Monrovia – The University of Liberia (UL) as part of its transformation process in making education best from mess, has, with its partners, launched a project at the college of engineering.
Report by Edwin G. Genoway – [email protected]
The project titled “Excellence in Higher Education for Liberian Development” (EHELD) is a carefully crafted and detailed blueprint to equip top-performing young Liberian men and women for professional careers as leaders, managers, extension agents, researchers, and small business owners in the two most critical current development sectors in Liberia, mainly agriculture and engineering.
The President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Emmet Dennis at an open house program held over the weekend on the University of Liberia Fendall Campus disclosed that since 2011, the EHELD project has worked with Liberia’s leading universities to transform the higher education fields of engineering and agriculture to be more dynamic, interactive, and modern so that students have practical skills and are ready to enter the workforce upon graduation.
“EHELD has developed premiere Centers of Excellence in engineering at the University of Liberia and agriculture at Cuttington University’s College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, which are equipping students to be leaders and managers in these fields and drive Liberia’s economic growth,” he said.
He noted that the EHELD also facilitates linkages between Liberia’s employers and higher education institutions in these fields to ensure that students are equipped with skills relevant to employers in Liberia.
Dr. Dennis praised President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her leadership which he said has brought great opportunities to the University of Liberia.
EHELD project is being funded by the USAID and implemented by RTI International.
USAID Deputy Mission Director to Liberia, Mervyn Farroe, making remarks at the program expressed joy for the successful implementation of the program.
Farroe said education is the foundation of any nation and for that reason EHELD program was helping young students by preparing them before their graduation.
He disclosed that females participation in the engineering department at the University of Liberia has increased over the year from 4% to 10%, something described as great improvement.
He noted that USAID is committed to helping improve the education of mainly female in Liberia, “USAID will forever commit itself to the development of education and we are proud to support this program that is helping to encourage female in the engineering and agriculture sector of this country,” he said.
Speaking earlier at the Open House Program, RTI Senior Director of Governance and Economic Development, Andrew A. Baird emphasized for the need to keep the students learning.
Outlining the activities of the EHELD, Andrew announced that under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Start program, EHELD was helping secondary school students develop skills in Science, Technology, English and Math so that they are better prepared to both enter and succeed in their engineering and agricultural studies at the University of Liberia and Cuttington University.
He said the EHELD employs a mixture of tools (international exchange programs, scholarships for post-graduate degrees, and short courses) to build the skills of faculty and administrators at the universities so that they are better equipped to teach from the revised curriculum as well as drive and sustain the centers of excellence after the life of EHELD.
He noted the program also engage and links the private sector to the universities through the Liberian Employers Action Group (LEAG) in order to create internships that will afford students with hands-on learning opportunities, facilitating job placement upon graduation.
Accomplishments
EHELD has Developed a new and revised engineering and agriculture curricula that reflects the input of Liberia’s employers.
It has also awarded nearly 300 academic-year scholarships to deserving Liberian undergraduates, allowing them to continue their studies in engineering and agriculture.
In 2014, 53 scholarship students graduated from the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development at the same time attracted thousands of Liberian students to engineering and agriculture, and prepared them for study in these fields, by reaching out to them through innovated EHELD pipeline programs such as Summer Start, Smart Start, and Fast Start, the UL authorities have said.
The EHELD has awarded 18 scholarships to Liberian faculty, allowing them to pursue higher education degrees abroad that will improve their teaching and mentoring capabilities.
It has also facilitated 14 short courses and placed international visiting faculty at both universities in order to bolster faculty and administrator skills.
The EHELD according to UL authorities the program has created internship and student career centers at each Center of Excellence to guide students and better prepare them for the workforce and made significant improvements to the facilities at the universities: new computer, science, and outdoor laboratories (including a student farm); provided internet; renovated classrooms; thousands of textbooks.
Planned Outcomes
The outcome of the program is to increase number of students (particularly girls) attracted to the fields of engineering and agriculture, with the math, science and English skills required to gain admission and be successful.
It is also aimed at increasing academic success of engineering and agricultural students with practical skills that will prepare them for the workforce in areas relevant to Liberia’s employers.
It will as well improve teaching, mentoring and leaderships skills of Liberian faculty and administrators so that they are better equipped to manage and sustain the Centers of Excellence and ensure long-term success.