University Evolution

About Development of Nile University

By Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar
On the Occasion of the Upgrade of Nile College (July 2019)

The idea of Nile College started in 1998 when there were three community colleges, one of which was already established and which is “Ahfad University for Women” and two new ones which are “University of Science and Technology” and the “University of Medical Sciences and Technology”. At the time, Professor Abdulrahman Mohamed Musa told me that the demand for medical colleges and the number of students studying in Sudan and abroad is increasing, and we are qualified to lead such work. At that time, Prof. Abdulrahman Mohamed Musa had gained academic and administrative experience through heading the Department of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, then Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the Sudan Medical Specialization Board, before assuming the position of President of Sudan Medical Council. So, he is experienced in the field of higher education – especially in the medical field – and at the same time he is a classmate who came from Hantoub Secondary School while I came from Khor Taqat Secondary School. Our fellowship has developed into a friendship during the study of medicine at the University of Khartoum and joining the faculty staff. Afterwards, we joined graduate studies in the city of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom which includes the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. In this city, I was preparing for my PhD at the University of Edinburgh School Of Medicine, while he was training at the Royal Infirmary, one of the largest hospitals in the UK. A pedestrian route called “Meadows Walk” linked the two institutions.

The company was registered in the names and signatures of the group of founders from (1-12). They are:

1.	Prof. Ahmed Mohamed Al Hassan		Pathology
2.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Mohamed Sukkar		Physiology
3.	Prof. Abdulrahman Mohamed Musa		Internal Medicine
4.	Prof. Zain El Abideen Abdulrahim Karrar		Paediatrics and Child Health
5.	Prof. Suleiman Salih Fedail Mohamed		Internal Medicine
6.	Prof. Abdulatif Ashmiq Khalifa		Obstetrics and Gynecology
7	Prof. Salah Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed		Biochemistry
8.	Prof. Abdulkader Mohamed Yousif El Kadaro		Internal Medicine
9.	Prof. Abdulrahman El-tayeb Abdulhafeez	Horticulture
10.	Prof. Hassan Sayed Ahmed Hassan	Microbiology
11.	Prof. Abdulraouf Ahmed Sharfi	Surgery
12.	Dr. Suleiman Hussein Suleiman	Surgery

The capital of the company was modest but then began to increase with the increasing commitments of the subsequent steps at a steady pace, during which the land was registered and the initial approval was obtained from the Department of Private and Foreign Education at the Ministry of Higher Education. After ascertaining the seriousness of the project, the final approval was obtained in 2007 and we started admission of the first batch which was the result of nine years of planning and work.

The group developed its vision and objectives along with the implementation strategy in two directions: the first is the College’s spatial presence and the second is scientific planning. In the first direction, it was agreed that the College will not be located in temporary or rented buildings in compliance with the vision and mission that we have committed to.

Nile College Vision

We seek to establish a leading university committed to quality in education, services and community development through good management, provision of resources, commitment to values and respect for cultural diversity.

Nile College Mission

Improving the administration in the provision of educational programs and services.
Contribute to the development of society through the principles of social responsibility.
Providing world-class educational programs.
Providing educational experiences aimed at personal and professional development.
Preserving the values of society and cultural diversity.

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.

Following is a history for each program separately:

Medicine and Surgery Program:

The curriculum was developed by a group of professors headed by Prof. Ahmed Mohamed Alhassan, including Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar, Prof. Abdelrahman Mohamed Musa, Prof. Salah Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed, Prof. Zain El Alabiddeen Karrar, Prof. Abdullatif Ashmeeq, Prof. Hassan Sayed Ahmed and Prof. Abdulraouf Ahmed Sharfi. This Committee conceptualized the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery curriculum and adopted the principle of horizontal and vertical integration of the curricula, taking into account the quality of students enrolled in the program and the realism of applicability. Based on this principle, the Spiral Curriculum System was adopted. The Committee also adopted the gradual handling of courses and that priority should be given to basic sciences in the first years, in addition to the gradual introduction of clinical courses.

A Short Overview of the Design and Implementation of the Main Building:

After long sessions with the architects, among whom are brothers Faisal and Kamal, the architectural maps of the main building were agreed upon, and I greatly appreciate their opinion and effort. I took those maps to an engineering office (Engineer Mohamed Ali Al-Amin) who completed the civil engineering work and approved the maps. The same office carried out the implementation after obtaining funding from the Sudanese Real Estate Bank and the work was completed in about a year and a half.

We are now in 2019. In October of the last year, we applied for the upgrading of Nile College to the “Nile University” and the evaluation procedures and visits of specialized teams began, the last of which was on 19/12/2018. After some correspondence between the Private Education Department and the Nile College, the final report was filed due to the events the country went through after the fall of the former government. This resulted in the absence of a Minister of Higher Education for quite a long time. But finally in July 2019, the undersecretaries were assigned to assume the functions of the minister. Thus, the report of the evaluation committee was presented to the Committee on Private and Foreign Education on 26/06/2019, and thanks Allah, it was approved and the Nile College has been upgraded to the “Nile University”.

In conclusion of this documentation, we must register the names of all those who prepared the reports and statistics included in the documents required for promotion.

Names of those who prepared the reports and statistics:

Number	Name	Report
1.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar	Introduction
2.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar	Fulfilment of the obligations stipulated in Article (15)
3.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar	Adherence to the directives and policies set by the Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research
4.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar- Ms. Aisha Mohamed Ibrahim	Spatial presence and capacity of Nile College
4.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar Mr. Jalaluddin Mohamed Ahmed – Ms. Hadiya Abdullah – Mr. Adel Abdelqader	Central/Sub-Library (Museum)
5.	Prof. Al Zain Karrar- Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar -Dr. Amna Saad	Initiating procedures to activate scientific research
6.	Dr. Ashraf Salih – Registrar– Mona Mohamed Malik	Continuity of the delivery of scientific programs
7.	Dr. Hamad Al-Turabi & Coordinators	Level of academic excellence of graduates
8.	Dr. Hamad Al-Turabi & Coordinators	Participation in scientific activity
9.	Prof. Amal Mohamed Said – Coordinators	Commitment to study plans
10.	Dr. Ashraf Salih – Mona Malik	Regularity of student annual admission
11.	Mr. Alrasheed Musa – Human Resources	Faculty Members
12.	Mr. Alrasheed Musa -Ms. Aisha Mohamed Ibrahim	Regulations governing work at Nile College
13.	Prof. Mohamed Yousif Sukkar- Ms. Aisha Mohamed Ibrahim	Future plans and programs for Nile College
14.	Prof. Alzain Karrar- Dr. Somaya Al Fadel	External Relations
15.	Dr. Salwa Subair- Mr. Mahir Haseeb	Student Affairs and Activities
16.	Ms. Aisha Mohamed Ibrahim	Accounting Systems
17.	Dr. Ayman Abdelmutleb –Dr. Somaya Alfadil, Mr. Sharafuddin Shuaib, Mr. Ahmed Al-Sheikh, Mr. Mahir Haseeb	Community Service
18.	Ms. Yasmin	College Website
19.	Ms. Hanan Hamza Abdullah	Secretariat [Printing-coordination-collection]
20.	Ms. Aisha Mohamed Ibrahim – Mahir Haseeb – Nasir Abdullah – Mohamed Al-Sammani – Al-Amin Abdullah – Mona Mohamed Malik – Hanan Hamza	Files – Final output.

Documents Preparation Table (table of contents and attachments to the College upgrade report and application (link with password)

Introduction			Executive summary of the upgrade of Nile College to the Nile University
Introduction			Founders of the Nile College Project
1.	(a) Fulfillment of the obligations stipulated in Article (15)	1(a)1	Report
		1(a)2	Incorporation Order
		1(a)3	Copies of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings
		1(a)4	Copies of the minutes of the meetings of the Financial and Administrative Committee
		1(a)5	Copies of minutes of the Academic Board meetings
		1(a)6	Current College organizational structure
		1(a)7	Members of the Academic Board
		1(a)8	Photos of meetings
2 .	(b) Adherence to the directives and policies set by the Higher Education and Scientific Research Council	2 (b)1	Report
2 .		2 (b)2	License letters for the Bachelor’s degree in: (Medicine, Medical Laboratories, Nursing Sciences, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medical Information, Administrative and Accounting Sciences, Computer,Information Technology, and Software Engineering)
3.	(c) Spatial presence and capacity of Nile College	3(C)1	General description of site and land. List of facilities, their purposes and details
		3(c)2	Table containing College buildings
		3(c)3	General outline/ Title research / Sketch map
		3(c)4	Lecture table for all programs/use tables for classrooms and laboratories
		3(c)5	Photos of the College/classrooms/ laboratories/computer labs/dental clinics/dental labs/clinical skills laboratory/cafeteria
4.	(d) Central/Sub-Library (Museum)	4(d)1	Library Management Report (Attached references /Separate file)
		4(d)2	Spatial Capacity and Seat Count Report
		4(d)3	Electronic Library Report (Attached references/Separate file)
		4(d)4	Anatomy and Pathology Museum Report
		4(d)5	Photos of the library and autopsy museum
5.	(e) Initiation of procedures to activate scientific research	5(e)1	Scientific Research Beginnings Report
		5(e)2	Scientific Research Policies Workshop
		5(e)3	Collection of lists of some recent publications (separate file attached)
		5(e)4	General Regulation of Master’s Degree
		5(e)5	Doctoral Degree General Regulation
		5(e)6	New Labs Photos
6.	(f)Continuity of the presentation of scientific programs	6(f)1	Scientific Development: Existing Programs (2017)
		6(f)2	Statistics on the number of graduates per program (2010-2017)
		6(f)3	Statistics of Annual Student Admission Numbers 2011-2017
		6(f)4	Statistics of student numbers according to registration and type of admission certificates
		6(f)5	Bridging, transfer and degree holders statistics
7.	(g) Level of academic excellence of graduates	7(g)1	A report on the level of graduates scientific excellence
		7(g)2	Letter from the Secretary of the Medical Council about the graduates of Nile College
		7(g)3	Report of the National Council for Medical and Health Professions
		7(g)4	Report of the Sudan Medical Specialization Board
		7(g)5	Medicine and Surgery Program (Program Coordinator Report)
		7(g)6	Pharmacy (Program Coordinator Report)
		7(g)7	Laboratories (Program Coordinator Report)
		7(g)8	Computer information systems and information technology (report of the Program Coordinator)
		7(g)9	Nursing Program (Program Coordinator Report)
		7(g)10	Oral and Dental Surgery Program (Program Coordinator Report)
		7(g)11	Secretary of Academic Affairs (Report)
		7(g)12	Graduation Photos
8.	(h) Participation in the scientific activity	8(h)1	Participation in the scientific activity report
		8(h)2	Participation in the scientific activity of pharmacy
		8(h)3	Participation in the scientific activity of Computer Systems
		8(h)4	Participation in the scientific activity of Medical laboratories
		8(h)5	Report on the First Scientific Forum of the Committee on Scientific Research and Development (Nursing)
		8(h)6	Postgraduate Enrolment Statistics
		8(h)7	Photos of LDC activity/Science Forum photos.
9.	(i) Commitment to Study Plans	9(i)1	Documentation of approved study plans and follow-up to ensure their implementation
		9(i)2	Study Plan for: Medical and Surgery Program/ Dentistry and Dental Surgery/Pharmacy/Medical Laboratory Science/Nursing Science/Computer and Information Technology/Business Administration and Accounting (separate file attached)
		9(i)3	Examples of some curricula documents
10.	(j) Regularity of student annual admission	10(j)1	Report on admission statistics of various programs
		10(j)2	Number of students now enrolled in all programs at all levels
		10(j)3	A table showing the numbers of students planned to be admitted each year and in each program.
		10(j)4	Numbers that have already been admitted in the last five years.
		10(j)5	Graphs showing numbers that have already been admitted in the last five years.
		10(j)6	Reception Photos
11.	(k)Teaching Staff	11(k)1	Statistics and information of faculty members: Name, academic rank, specialization, educational and professional qualifications, type of contract (full-time, part time)
		11(k)2	Clarify the percentage of full-time contractors out of the total number of faculty members.
		11(k)3	Statistics of teaching assistants and technicians
		11(k)4	Photos of Faculty Members groups
12.	(l) Regulations governing work at Nile College	12(l)1	Academic regulations (separate file attached)
12.	(l) Regulations governing work at Nile College	12(l)2	Administrative and financial regulations (separate file attached)
13.	(m) Future Plans and Programs of Nile College	13(m)1	Write a report on future urban growth and expansion plans
		13(m)2	Urban growth and expansion plans
		13(m)3	Academic growth plans and future program upgrade
		13(m)4	A report on future plans of the College’s Department of Informatics
		13(m)5	Future administrative structure
14.	(n) External Relations	14(n)1	Report and submission of documents on Nile College relations with scientific institutions
		14(n)2	Report of the Higher Medical Studies Board for International Students
		14(n)3	Reports of external examiners
15.	(o) Student Affairs and Activities	15(o)1	Enumerating and documenting students’ activities and events
15.	(o) Student Affairs and Activities	15(o)2	Photos depicting student activities
16.	(p) Accounting Systems	16(p)1	Financial and accounting systems
		16(p)2	Financial planning and budgeting
		16(p)3	Financial audit reports and budgets of past years
17.	(q) Community Service	17(q)1	Monitor and document activities related to interaction with the community
		17(q)2	Supporting scientific, social, and development activities
		17(q)3	Photos of medical convoys, awareness-raising, volunteering, charity work…
		17(q)4	Photos of student social activities
18.	(r) College Website	18(r)1	Writing a brief definition on the perks and capabilities of the College website.
		18(r)2	Report on the College’s electronic network
		18(r)3	Administrative policies and procedures for the College website

The College followed a regular approach in the preparation of reports as stated in the Regulation for the Promotion of Universities – Attachment (1) of the Promotion Preparation Committee and Proceedings of the successful meetings. A password-protected link is attached. Report of the Nile College pursuant to which the College was upgraded to a university.

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