New public San Pedro University on schedule to open soon

Construction of the University of San Pedro, a new institution in Côte d'Ivoire under President Alassane Ouattara’s priority higher education expansion strategy, is on schedule, as a delegation headed by Adama Diawara, the minister of higher education and scientific research, that visited this month to inspect progress, reported in Confidentiel Afrique.

According to a representative of the developer, Envol Partenariats, the work is now 95% complete, including university residences with 1,000 beds, and accommodation for teachers; lecture halls, laboratories and workshops; offices for the university president and other managers, reported Confidentiel Afrique.

Outlining the national provision for higher education, Diawara said: “At present ... there are 273,866 students, and 57% of these students are in public institutions and the 43% others are in private universities and grandes écoles. That works out expensive for the state of Côte d’Ivoire.

“President Alasane Ouattara decided, on his accession to power, that there should be many more students in the public universities. That is why the state has gone ahead with building new universities.

“The higher education research units at Daloa and Korhogo have been converted into universities, and there are new universities – at Man and San-Pedro – as well as the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire, and the University of Bondoukou, which is under construction. I should add that these universities are being built in several phases.”

Diawara said the first part of the first phase had been opened in October 2021; and the second part was on course to open in March 2023, which would include science facilities. Following this visit, he was satisfied with progress.

When fully completed, San Pedro would cater for 20,000 students, with residences for 7,000, reported Confidentiel Afrique. When this preliminary phase was finished, the first 3,000 students could move in, with accommodation for 1,000. – Compiled by Jane Marshall.

This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.