Saint Monica University

Saint Monica University
Motto Servire Sine Fine
Motto in English
 Service Without Limit
Type Private
Established 2012
Chancellor Dr. Nicholas Asongu Jingwa, DEd.
President Prof. Januarius Jingwa Asongu, PhD, FABPP
Provost Prof. Rafael Bisaliev, MD, PhD, DSc.
Location Cameroon and UK
Campus Traditional and Online
Website www.smuedu.org

Saint Monica University or Saint Monica University: The American International University (SMU) is an accredited private independent Catholic university with operations in Cameroon. It is an American-style university offering career-focused programs that are at the intersection of liberal arts, science, and technology.[1] It provides educational opportunities for the intellectual, social, entrepreneurial and professional development of a diverse student population.[2]

The university offers Bachelor's, Master's and programs on-campus in Cameroon and online. The university's motto is "Servire Sine Fine," Latin for “Service Without Limit.” The university's slogans include “Transforming Lives, Transforming Society” and "Learn with Support, Graduate with Confidence."[3]

Schools and institutes

The university operates four schools:[4]

In addition, it has specialized institutes including the International Institute of Petroleum Studies (IIPS), which operates under the SSET; the Physician Assistant Training Institute (PATI),[5] which operates under the SHHS; the Institute for Ethics, Democracy, and Human Rights (IEDHR), which operates under the SAEH; the Institute for Sustainable Development & Entrepreneurship (ISDE), which operates under the SBPP; and the Institute of Biodiversity and Non-profit Studies (IBiNS), which operates under the SBPP and in collaboration with the training and capacity building division of the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERUDEF).[6]

History

The roots of the university go back to 2001, when a group of American intellectuals originally from Cameroon decided to start a US-style university in Cameroon. In 2009, the Professional Training Center (PTC) went operational in Bamenda, Cameroon, approved by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training. It provided training in sustainable energy, especially solar energy. In 2012, Saint Monica University replaced the PTC, with the incorporation of the university in Hawaii in the United States as a non-profit institution offering Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs.

In the same year (2012), Saint Monica University began seeking authorization to operate in Cameroon and was granted permission, where it operates under the name, Saint Monica University (SMU) Higher Institute.

In 2014, SMU sought to establish a campus in the UK. It was registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP). The company was, however, dissolved in May 2016.[7]

The SMU ground campus in Cameroon is on leased premises at the Mount Cameroon Sports Academy in Liongo, just outside the Muea neighborhood in Buea. In October 2013, the university purchased a 4-hectare (about 10 acres) piece of land where it intends to construct its permanent campus. Located in the Bulu neighborhood in Buea, the parcel of land has been christened "Civitas Dei," Latin for "The City of God." Construction of the first building has started at Civitas Dei.[8]

Accreditation

Saint Monica University (SMU) is accredited by the United Kingdom-based Accreditation Service for International Colleges.[9]

Saint Monica University is accredited in the National Commission on Private Higher Education at the Minister of Higher Education, Yaounde, Cameroon. SMU has, therefore, met all the requirements to function as a de facto institution of higher education in Cameroon.[10]

In September 2016 the Ministry of Higher Education in Cameroon issued a statement saying that "St Monica University in Buea is not authorised to offer doctorate/Ph.D. programmes or issue any equivalent acknowledged degrees. Any person, holding a Ph.D. degree from this university is in infringement of the current law."[11][12]

Partnerships and affiliations

Saint Monica University has partnerships, affiliations, and other agreements with Central State University in Wilberforce, OH, USA; Savannah State University in Savannah, GA, USA; University of Applied Sciences in Brandenburg, Germany; Astrakhan State Technical University in Astrakhan, Russia; Mahatma Gandhi University in Khanapara, India; Maharishi Markandeshwar University (MM University) in Mullana, India; and other universities in the US and other countries.

Memberships

Saint Monica University is one of the about 19 international members of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the only such university in Cameroon. CIC is an organization for small and mid-sized, independent, liberal arts colleges and universities in the U.S. It has about 700 universities as its members.[13]

SMU is one of over a dozen African universities to join the Global Universities In Distance Education (GUIDE).[14] The GUIDE Association was founded in 2005 by Marconi University to develop and support international cooperation and open and distance learning worldwide.

Saint Monica University is an education partner of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world's largest anti-fraud organization and a provider of anti-fraud training and education.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Saint Monica University. (2014). Welcome to Saint Monica University. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.smuedu.org/#!about-us/c1se
  2. ↑ PRLOG. (2014). Saint Monica University. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://news.prlog.org/tag/saint-monica-university/
  3. ↑ Saint Monica University. (2014). Welcome to Saint Monica University. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.smuedu.org/#!about-us/c1se
  4. ↑ All About Cameroon. (2014). Saint Monica University. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://www.all-about-cameroon.com/saint-monica-universitysmu-buea-cameroon.html
  5. ↑ PRLOG. (2014, June 25). Two American Institutions in Cameroon Create Partnership on Health Programs. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://www.prlog.org/12341374-two-american-institutions-in-cameroon-create-partnership-on-health-programs.html
  6. ↑ Nawom, I. (2014, March 6). St Monica University matriculates second batch of students. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://erudef.org/index.php/news-mainmenu/item/st-monica-university-matriculates-second-batch-of-students-2
  7. ↑ "SAINT MONICA COLLEGE LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  8. ↑ Saint Monica University. (2014). Welcome to Saint Monica University. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.smuedu.org/#!about-us/c1se
  9. ↑ Accreditation Service for International Colleges. (2014). International Directory. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://www.asicuk.com/international-directory/
  10. ↑ Saint Monica University. (2014). Accreditation. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://www.smuedu.org/#!accreditation/c2oh
  11. ↑ Tourism, Business in Cameroon, Economie, Banking, Energy, Comms, Media, Law, Insurance, Public management,. "The Ministry of Higher Education nabs private institutes - Business in Cameroon". Business in Cameroon. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  12. ↑ "Higher Education Slams PAID and St. Monica - BaretaNews". BaretaNews. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  13. ↑ Council of Independent Colleges. (2014). International and Association Members. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.cic.edu/About-CIC/Who-We-Are/Members-of-CIC/Pages/Internationals-and-Associates.aspx
  14. ↑ GUIDE. (2014). GUIDE Association - Members. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://www.guideassociation.org/members_en,
  15. ↑ PRLOG. (2013, May 1). Saint Monica University Joins Global Anti-Fraud Education Partnership. Retrieved, July 31, 2014, from http://www.prlog.org/12129010-saint-monica-university-joins-global-anti-fraud-education-partnership.html
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