The University of Juba will soon offer joint courses such as hospitality and tourism with Kenyan Zetech University.
The two institutions of higher learning last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding that explores areas of collaboration to promote academic and research cooperation.
In the new pact signed by the University of Juba Vice-Chancellor Prof. John Akec and his Zetech counterpart Prof. Njenga Munene, the two varsities will exchange academic materials and publications, facilitating attachment of staff for purposes of curriculum development and review and upgrading of teaching and research skills.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Prof Akec said: “We want to collaborate with Zetech University in various fields including exchange of teaching staff, students and they also have a very good program such as hospitality and tourism. We want to collaborate and open a branch of such a college in Juba so we can offer a joint degree to our students.”
According to Prof. Akec, the main focus will be the exchange of teaching staff and academic programs review.
“Our interest here is to open a branch of the Hospitality and Tourism school here in Juba. This is part of the skills programs as a vocational training which includes hotel management and hospitality in general,” he explained. “We will take their syllabus and they will send some of their teaching staff here to teach our students and at the end of the day, we will both benefit. At the end of the day, we will offer our students a joint degree which means the degree will hold two names of the universities.”
Prof. Akec says the joint courses could begin by the next intake in October if all logistical and material needs are met.
The University of Juba is the largest public university in South Sudan with over 29,000 students.