Univesrity of Buea Awaits 6,000 Freshmen

Despite delays registered last academic year, the University of Buea (UB) will resume lectures for the 2012-2013 academic year on October 15 with its new Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nalova Lyonga appointed last 29 June. From the Vice Chancellor's memorandum dated August 14, some of her Deputies and Faculty Deans appointed recently are still awaiting official commissioning as UB still expects the Minister's response to certain corrections.

On that account, some 6,000 freshmen are expected to swell UB campus numbers to approximate last year's 16,000, including about 50 physically or visually impaired students, 300 permanent teaching staff, 200 part-time lecturers and 473 support staff. Re-sit exams began on September 26 and October 10 is slated for the publication of graduation lists. UB is this time at its third on-line registration year, and its first on-line fee payment.

Facilities

According to the UB Registrar, Professor Samson N. Abangma, 7,000 applications for undergraduate admissions were registered this academic year. Although the capacity of the University of Buea cannot be said to be limited to 16,000 (highest ever recorded since inception in 1993), inside sources speak of a 25,000-space campus. The strong opinion of lecturers usually in favour of minimal admission runs contrary to other State Universities. Rejected candidates are often frustrated and have to far-away universities.

UB will resume this year with the same worry of past years; that of limited in-campus student hostels. The University can only boast 100 in-campus hostel rooms for 20 years now; although hopes are high this time with the UB-GLOBECO contract to build a 5,000-room facility.

Training at the University of Buea hinges on what insiders call "encouraging infrastructure" such as lecture halls, teaching and research laboratories, administrative offices, sports play grounds, and a computer pool. To connect to the external world, UB enjoys an optical fibre network which also connects with various services within the campus. The UB impact is practically felt across the country as it provides mentorship and supervisory roles to some 14 cooperating tertiary institutions. That is why last year, the public witnessed students from the Siantou University Complex Yaounde, passing out in a joint ceremony at the UB open-air-hall.