University Evolution

Regarding the first direction, Allah has dedicated to us a young man nominated by Prof. Abdulrahman Eltayeb. He was accepted being a descendant of a noble family and who is specialized in dentistry. That young man’s name was Dr. Emad Mahmoud Al Omairi. Through Dr. Emad’s efforts, it was agreed with the Medical Services Development Fund to utilize the building of Omdurman Academy of Medical Sciences under an agreement that was hoped to end in partnership. But the Fund demanded retrieval of the building and it was evacuated by Nile College after nearly two and a half years. The group already started implementing a building on the land that had been registered in East Nile locality.

As to the second direction, the group identified the programs that I had presented to the Ministry of Higher Education from among about thirty potential programs. Four programs were selected “three bachelor degrees and one university diploma”. At that time, diplomas were among the priorities of the Ministry of Higher Education policy. I remember that the Ministry’s committee that we met and discussed the project with recommended the inclusion of some diplomas in our programs. We deemed that the diploma of medical information systems would fill a vacuum that the medical field in both its therapeutic and academic parts needed, especially in the various departments that apply information technology in the management of health and educational institutions in the medical field.

This stage was followed by the development of study plans in the proposed programs. I remember that the meetings were held at the home of Professor Ahmed Mohamed Alhassan, who is considered by this group to be an example in knowledge and morals.

The group adopted the principle of integration and overlapped teaching of courses and scientific disciplines at the basic science stage.The committee was convinced that this application of the principles of curriculum building meets the needs of the outcome-based curriculum while guaranteeing at the same time the validity of the results of the examinations at all stages. To ensure that, part of the clinical science has been included in the basic medical science and the other part has been left for the clinical stage for students to be tested during clinical training. On the other hand, tests are carried out separately during the stages of clinical training.

[Fellow brother Prof. Ahmed Abdulmajeed (Zoology) heard about our project and seemed enthusiastic about it. He offered me in several meetings in my home where I was preparing the project’s initial documents to acquire a suitable plot of land east of the international exhibition – and to obtain funding from one of the companies that he has a good relationship with its owners – and I asked him during these visits to outline the course that he believes the university should follow and to undertake the steps regarding obtaining financing and the plot of land. Though, none of that happened despite the continuing visits and discussion. Finally, a meeting was held in my office at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum with colleagues in the natural sciences gathered by Mr. Ahmed. But, the meeting did not result in anything as some of them were reserved about the establishment of private universities and about other things related to funding and obstacles to such a project. As such, it was clear to me that this group cannot be relied upon in the establishment of the future university.So, I made a suggestion to them that was actually a test of their seriousness, which was that each of them has to envision the faculty that they wanted the university to include, each in their own specialization, besides the formation of the team that would complete this planning of the faculty. I promised the group that I would assemble a team for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and develop its curriculum– That was the last thing I witnessed from this group that did not present the prospective projects for the faculties]. This part is necessary – however not important – in order that no one will claim to be among the founders of the university.

The medical group began to work diligently to attract faculty and administration members and to complete the requirements of laboratories, lecture halls and offices in the aforementioned building which is designed for educational purposes. By that time, the College buildings project had begun and its first stages were about to be completed, thankfully.

When the College buildings were settled, the strategy of horizontal and vertical expansion was developed and we started the project of programs expansion. The group started the first programs of horizontal expansion, which is the planning of pharmacy and dentistry programs and the business management and accounting program. That was in the second year, after study started in the programs submitted to and approved by the Department of Private and Foreign Education. But Allah’s will happened, as it occurred in this period that establishing a medical college at the University of Karari was thought of. And after a visit from some senior officials (headed by Mamoun Mohamed Ali Humaida from the Ministry of Higher Education and Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussein from the Medical Services Development Fund in 2010), it was decided that the buildings of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the National Medical Services Development Fund will not be able to accommodate the new college with the presence of Nile College. We were ordered to evacuate the building within only 3 months – and to consider the past period as a rent randomly estimated without negotiation with the Fund’s officials above. This development posed a major challenge to the Nile Group. Also, the efforts exerted were well appreciated till Allah blessed us with the ability to repay these unexpected debts. The most important challenge was how to behave regarding these young students – two batches in four programs and with only a few months left before the final test? That also coincided with the reception of new batches at the beginning of the academic year.

These overlaps caused the disruption of the expansion programs above, despite having all the necessary documents, and we did not start recruiting faculty members until the College buildings were completed. Finally, the new pharmacy and dental programs were launched in 2011, followed by the Management Sciences program, including the Bachelor of Accounting in 2012.

Termination of the agreement with the Health Services Development Fund came to an end six months before it was possible to move to the new building. At the time, we had two batches of students registered in four programs. In particular, we would like to thank Al Mughtaribeen University, headed by Professor Hassan Abu Aisha, which hosted these two batches from November 2010 to June 2011. In addition, “Brain Power Center” also hosted the Faculty Board during this period through mutual cooperation, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ali Al-Zayat and Dr. Emad Mahmoud Al-Omairi and Dr. Abdelmoneim Sahal Elmardi.

After this confusion, Nile College started in its new headquarters. During the seven years that followed, the College witnessed a steady growth evidenced by the increasing numbers of students, the diverse programs, besides the enrollment of considerable number of faculty members, especially because of the quality performance, the refined treatment, and the academic atmosphere that provides them with a conducive work environment. This is manifest in those who remained in the program for long periods of time, performing their work with all sincerity and creativity, besides those who joined later and who appreciate the quality of the academic and administrative atmosphere. We attribute all this to Allah and the efforts of those in charge of the College, irrespective of how important their role is.