RUFORUM supports Nugaal University’s graduate programmes
In a significant step towards revitilising higher education in post-conflict Somalia, Nugaal University (NU) embarked on a transformative journey by collaborating with the Regional University Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) to enhance its academic offerings through the conception of two master’s graduate programmes; Masters in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management and Masters in Business Administration. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the academic landscape of Somalia’s Sool region, to elevate educational standards and contribute to the regions socio-economic development aspirations.
Historically, Somalia’s higher education landscape was severely disrupted due to prolonged civil conflict, however, NU has made notable progress in reconstructing and contributing to the region’s academic fabric.
Established in 2003, NU boasts eight faculties, including Education, Community Development and Leadership, Business Administration, Economy and Political Science, Agriculture and Animal Science, Health Science, Computer Science and Sharia and Islamic Studies. Since its inception, the university has produced 3,975 graduates, including 56 postgraduate diplomas, 1632 bachelor’s degrees and 2287 diplomas.
After 17-years of delivering undergraduate programmes, NU sought to develop postgraduate programmes that would be nationally available to advance higher education’s contribution to national development. This ambition led to NU joining the RUFORUM network as a member university in 2020. As a result, successful collaborations were established with three member universities of the RUFORUM network namely; Egerton University, Gulu University and Haramaya University, who provided technical support in developing the two postgraduate programmes. Furthermore, Haramaya University supported the delivery of the programmes through co-teaching and co-supervision of the students.
The successful graduation of the first cohort of 38 out of 40 students in April 2025 stands as testament of the programmes impact, as graduates have now transitioned into diverse employment, while others have established their own businesses. This has catalysed increased government support towards the university’s programmes.
As NU continues to expand, its efforts will undoubtably inspire similar advancements across other conflict-affected regions, underscoring education’s critical role in fostering resilient, sustainable development and peacebuilding. Somalia joins other post-conflict countries that have benefited from institutional support through the RUFORUM Post-Conflict Member Universities Capacity Building Strategy, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, Nigeria and Mali. This strategy seeks to enhance the resilience, efficiency, and impact of universities in fulfilling their essential roles in education, research, and community development, thereby contributing to the region’s stability, social cohesion, and economic recovery.
