University of Asmara

University of Asmara
Type	Public
Active	1958–2006
President	Tadesse Mehari (2004 - 2007)
Location	Asmara, Eritrea; 15°20′33″N 38°55′39″E / 15.34250°N 38.92750°E
Website	www.uoa.edu.er

The University of Asmara (UoA) was a public university in Asmara, Eritrea. The nation's first university, it was founded in 1958 by the "Piae Madres Nigritiae" (Comboni Sisters). The school was meant to provide for the local population, though its initial enrollment in the 1950s was entirely Italian.^[2] Over the course of its history it has been reopened and reorganised following political changes. In 2006 it was closed^{[clarification needed]} and reorganized into other institutions such as the Eritrea Institute of Technology.^[3]^[1]

History

The university was founded as the "Catholic College of Santa Famiglia" in 1958 by the "Piae Madres Nigritiae" (Comboni Sisters). In 1964 the university had been renamed as "University of Asmara" and began offering Associate Diploma programs in the arts, commerce, and the sciences. The roots of the university are connected to the 1940s when Dr. Vincenzo Di Meglio [it] promoted the creation of the "School of Medicine" in Italian Asmara. It is also linked historically to the Istituto Italiano Statale Omnicomprensivo di Asmara.^[2]^[4]^[5]

..it is noteworthy to remember that the "University of Asmara" was created by Italian religious organizations. Indeed The University of Asmara (UoA) was the nation's first university, and was founded in 1958 by the 'Piae Madres Nigritiae' (Comboni Sisters). The school was meant to provide for the local population, though its initial enrollment in the 1950s was entirely Italian. The university was founded with the name "Collegio Cattolico della Santa Famiglia": the roots were in the 1941 "Scuola di Medicina", linked to the Asmara Hospital (then named "Regina Elena"). In the early years, the curriculum reflected Italian educational plans, and courses were taught in Italian with a view to preparing students to receive the "laurea" (degree) from a university in Italy. In 1958, members of the missionary congregation 'Piae Madres Nigritiae' or Comboni Sisters began private education classes for 10 Italian female students: the "Holy Family University Institute" was founded by the Italian Sister Marianora and Sister Fosca. B. D'Ambrosio^[4]

In 1979 the new president pushed through a major reorganization of the curriculum and structure. The next years saw an increase in students from 300 to 2700. New courses, staff, day and evening extension programs and campus buildings revived the university, together with a bilateral agreement to exchange students and faculty with the University of Addis Ababa, particularly focusing on graduate training in Addis Ababa to produce faculty for Eritrea.^[2] In the 1980s, the Arid Zone Agricultural College was established as a faculty.^[6]

After Eritrean independence

The university stopped new student enrollments in 2003. In 2003, the government issued a directive re-configuring prospective students to one of five tertiary education institutions that opened after new admission to the university was stopped such as the Eritrea Institute of Technology. The Eritrean government worked out in its program that the university was restructured and its resources reallocated to new institutions of higher education.

References

^ ^a ^b Ginbot, Zekarias (3 February 2015). "The Sarcasm, Denial and Lies of the Eritrean authorities: a personal account on the National service, the closure of the University of Asmara and the Scholarship program in South Africa – Part III – Assenna.com". Assenna. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
^ ^a ^b ^c "University of Asmara: A Brief History". uoa.edu.er. 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
^ Rena, Ravinder (2007) "Challenges For Higher Education In Eritrea In The Post-Independent Period To The Present– A Case of Asmara University", Argentine: Working Paper No.14, pp.1-13 Published (on 2 August 2007) by the Argentine Center of International Studies. "Asmara University has been closed by September 2006. All the existing staff and students are assimilated with that of newly established Eritrea Institute of Technology and other related colleges. It assumed that the university will start again with post-graduate and research programmes in the country."
^ ^a ^b Martin Plaut (14 September 2020). "Eritrean regime's next target: the Italian School of Asmara". Eritrea Hub. Agenzia Fides. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
^ Paolo, Nicky Di. "La Scuola di Medicina di Asmara" [The School of Medicine of Asmara] (PDF). www.ilcornodafrica.it (in Italian).
^ "General Information As of January 1, 2018". Mekelle University. Retrieved 6 October 2018.

Bibliography

Killion, Tom (1998). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3437-5.
Feagles, Shelley M. (1999). A Guide to Educational Systems Around the World. Washington, D.C.: NAFSA: Association of International Educators. ISBN 9780912207834.

[:1-1] Ginbot, Zekarias (3 February 2015). "The Sarcasm, Denial and Lies of the Eritrean authorities: a personal account on the National service, the closure of the University of Asmara and the Scholarship program in South Africa – Part III – Assenna.com". Assenna. Retrieved 2021-10-11.

[UoA-2] "University of Asmara: A Brief History". uoa.edu.er. 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2006-09-02.

[3] Rena, Ravinder (2007) "Challenges For Higher Education In Eritrea In The Post-Independent Period To The Present– A Case of Asmara University", Argentine: Working Paper No.14, pp.1-13 Published (on 2 August 2007) by the Argentine Center of International Studies. "Asmara University has been closed by September 2006. All the existing staff and students are assimilated with that of newly established Eritrea Institute of Technology and other related colleges. It assumed that the university will start again with post-graduate and research programmes in the country."

[:2-4] Martin Plaut (14 September 2020). "Eritrean regime's next target: the Italian School of Asmara". Eritrea Hub. Agenzia Fides. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.

[5] Paolo, Nicky Di. "La Scuola di Medicina di Asmara" [The School of Medicine of Asmara] (PDF). www.ilcornodafrica.it (in Italian).

[:0-6] "General Information As of January 1, 2018". Mekelle University. Retrieved 6 October 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Association of African Universities
Algeria	Algiers 1 University Constantine 1 University Oran 1 University University of Ouargla University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene
Angola	Agostinho Neto University
Benin	University of Abomey-Calavi
Botswana	Botho University Botswana Accountancy College Botswana International University of Science and Technology Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Botswana
Burkina Faso	Nazi Boni University University of Ouagadougou
Burundi	University of Burundi
Cameroon	University of Bamenda University of Buea University of Douala University of Dschang University of Maroua University of Ngaoundéré University of Yaoundé I
Cape Verde	Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde
Central African Republic	EUCLID University of Bangui
Chad	University of N'Djamena
Republic of the Congo	Marien Ngouabi University
Cote d'Ivoire	International University of Grand-Bassam Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Catholic University of Bukavu University of Kinshasa University of Kisangani University of Lubumbashi
Egypt	Ain Shams University Al-Azhar University Alexandria Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology Alexandria University Benha University Cairo University Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology Egyptian e-Learning University Helwan University Mansoura University Menoufia University Minya University Misr University for Science and Technology October 6 University Pharos University in Alexandria South Valley University Suez Canal University Tanta University The American University in Cairo The British University in Egypt University of Sadat City Zagazig University
Eritrea	University of Asmara
Eswatini	University of Eswatini
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa Science and Technology University Addis Ababa University Ethiopian Civil Service University Haramaya University Hawassa University Jimma University Mekelle University St. Mary's University Wollega University
Gabon	Omar Bongo University
Ghana	Accra Institute of Technology Accra Technical University African University College of Communications All Nations University Ashesi University Bluecrest University College Central University George Grant University of Mines and Technology Ghana Institute of Languages Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Koforidua Technical University Kumasi Technical University Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Methodist University College Ghana Pentecost University Presbyterian University College Radford University College Regent University College of Science and Technology Regional Maritime University University for Development Studies University of Cape Coast University of Education, Winneba University of Energy and Natural Resources University of Ghana University of Health and Allied Sciences University of Professional Studies University of Media, Arts and Communication Valley View University Wisconsin International University College Zenith University College
Kenya	African Virtual University Catholic University of Eastern Africa Daystar University Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Egerton University International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenyatta University Maseno University Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Moi University Mount Kenya University Multimedia University of Kenya South Eastern Kenya University Strathmore University Umma University University of Eldoret University of Nairobi
Lesotho	National University of Lesotho
Liberia	Cuttington University Stella Maris Polytechnic University United Methodist University
Libya	Al Asmarya University for Islamic Sciences Al Zawiya University Misurata University Sabha University University of Benghazi University of Tripoli
Madagascar	University of Antananarivo University of Toamasina University of Toliara
Malawi	Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Malawi University of Science and Technology UNICAF University of Malawi
Mali	University of Bamako
Mauritania	University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya
Mauritius	Open University of Mauritius University of Mauritius University of Technology, Mauritius
Morocco	Mohammed First University Mohammed V University University of al-Qarawiyyin
Mozambique	Catholic University of Mozambique Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo University
Namibia	International University of Management Namibia University of Science and Technology University of Namibia
Niger	Abdou Moumouni University Higher Institute of Mining, Industry and Geology Maryam Abacha American University Niger
Nigeria	Abia State University Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Adamawa State University Ahmadu Bello University Al-Hikmah University Babcock University Bayero University Bells University of Technology Bowen University Crawford University Delta State University, Abraka Ebonyi State University Federal University of Technology, Minna Federal University of Technology, Owerri Federal University of Technology, Yola Gombe State University Kogi State University Kwara State University Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Michael Okpara University of Agriculture National Open University of Nigeria Niger Delta University Nnamdi Azikiwe University Osun State University Pan-Atlantic University Redeemer's University Rivers State University University of Abuja University of Africa University of Agriculture, Abeokuta University of Agriculture, Makurdi University of Benin University of Calabar University of Ibadan University of Ilorin University of Lagos University of Port Harcourt University of Uyo Usman Dan Fodio University
Rwanda	Université Nationale du Rwanda
Sierra Leone	Njala University University of Sierra Leone
Somalia	Benadir University East Africa University Puntland State University
South Africa	Cape Peninsula University of Technology Central University of Technology Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University North-West University Rhodes University University of Cape Town University of Fort Hare University of Johannesburg University of KwaZulu-Natal University of the Free State University of Limpopo University of Pretoria University of South Africa University of Stellenbosch University of the Western Cape University of the Witwatersrand University of Venda University of Zululand Walter Sisulu University
South Sudan	University of Juba
Sudan	El Imam El Mahdi University Omdurman Ahlia University Red Sea University University of Science and Technology
Tanzania	Ardhi University Muslim University of Morogoro Mzumbe University St. Augustine University of Tanzania The Open University of Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam Zanzibar University
The Gambia	University of the Gambia
Togo	Université de Lomé
Uganda	Busitema University Uganda Christian University Uganda Management Institute Uganda Martyrs University
Zambia	Cavendish University Copperbelt University Mulungushi University University of Zambia Zambian Open University
Zimbabwe	Africa University Bindura University of Science Education Chinhoyi University of Technology Great Zimbabwe University Harare Institute of Technology Lupane State University Midlands State University National University of Science and Technology University of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Open University

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	Germany United States Norway Israel

History

After Eritrean independence

See also

References

Bibliography