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The University of Dschang This history of the University covers the University’s history up to 1993. The University of Dschang is located in West Cameroon, about 425 kilometers northwest of Yaounde. It has its roots in about three agricultural training schools, and gradually evolved from a primarily agricultural institution to a full fledge university in 1993. Stage I From a training institute to the national (superior) school of agriculture (ENSA). Stage II From ENSA to the UCD In 1977, the government of Cameroon (GoC) authorized the creation of university centers at various locations in Cameroon. The University Center at Dschang, was created by Presidential Decree No. 77/108 of April 28, 1977. In May 1978 ENSA in Yaounde and the Institute for Agricultural Technologies (ITA) in Dschang were incorporated into the UCDs. ENSA was to be transferred to Dschang as soon as possible. These two institutions were later merged into a single academic entity "The National Institute of Rural Development" (INADER). In 1979-80, USA government in exchanges with the GoC, decided to provide assistance to UCDs. In 1981, the University of Florida was selected on a competitive basis to design that assistance, through what was named, the Agricultural Education Project (AED) Stage III From UCD to UD In 1993, the UCD was transformed into the University of Dschang. The rest of this document focuses on STAGE II – From ENSA to UCD In 1979, the Governments of Cameroon and the United States agreed to build a new academic institution in Cameroon. It was a time when the Government of Cameroon had decided to place academic institutions in key corners of the country. Since there were already academic institutions in the commercial capital (Douala), the political capital (Yaoundé), in the north in Ngaundere, the new institutions were to be placed in the west (at Dschang) and in the south west (at Buea). The US government committed $44 million (a mix of a grant and a loan) to fund the Dschang project and the Cameroon government made significant financial and in kind contributions of about $74 million that covered the salaries of Cameroonian staff and infrastructure. Belgium contributed about $8 million. The US contribution was split between two independent programs one on infrastructure and the other on academic programs and training. The contract for the former was finally subcontracted to a construction company from Senegal. The latter was awarded to the University of Florida (UF) in 1982, with a small sub-contract to the Florida A&M University. The UF team was led by Joe Busby who in 1987 was succeeded by Charlie Eno who led the team until 1989 when he was succeeded by Hartmann who ran the project until 1992. The UF team included several professionals covering forestry (Mitch Flinchum), economics (Max Langham), engineering (Larry Bagnell), research (Bill French) also some support staff – Library (Dee Baldwin), business manager, maintenance specialist (Randy Bills) among others. Each of the UF team professionals had Cameroonian counterparts. These counterparts were very capable professionals. They included the likes of Francois Kamajou, Tchala Abina, Jean Ongla, Mpoame Mbida, Herbert Endeley, Ruben Njwe, Pascal Fotzo, Jacob Foko, Joseph Tchouboue, Francois Ebwelle, Jacques Moche, Yacouba Manjeli, Howard Fube, Boyomo Mouzong, Jean-Jacques Faure, Ajaga Nji, Jean Nyeinba, Tekounegning. The Dschang undertaking was a rather unique one. Unlike some other academic institution programs, which were going on at that time in Africa, Americas and Asia. At Dschang, the GoC, decided to begin almost from scratch. Its President, Mr. Ahidjo and his entourage visited the UF and put out a hefty challenge. It wanted an institution that better served the country. This request meant that this undertaking by the UF was not going to be an easy one. In other words, it was certainly not going to be a cookie cutter approach to earlier university building undertakings by the US government and the host country. The challenge posed by President Ahidjo, meant that, prior to building any sort of program the USA and GoC teams would have to come up with a way to address the challenge. What would the institution be doing, exactly? How would it go about doing it? What would it be teaching? Since one can impute value to almost any kind of subject, which eliminates the option of excluding any, which ones are to be given priority? After many exchanges both formal and informal, an approach was adopted. The way the two teams went about it was long but at the end well worth the effort. The GoC would selected its best and brightest, and the UF would organize their visits to academic institutions around the world. Some were sent to institutions in Africa, others to Europe, others to Asia, some to South America and still others to North America. Their task was to visit, observe and learn as much as they could about how things worked in the institutions they visited. Where feasible some went further and talked to many users (employers) of the institution’s alumni. Upon their return to Cameroon, the US team and their Cameroonian counterparts organized conferences to hear, listen, learn and discuss what each had learned then to begin projecting what they saw as programs or approaches that would be applicable and useful to Cameroon. As can be imagined, some lively debates ensued. Liveliness notwithstanding, some outsiders observing the exchanges were impressed with the ‘very courteous way that matters were handled and the high degree of professionalism of the young faculty’ in spite of very divergent views. From this process details were added to the blueprint for the creation of the new institution. A strong undercurrent to all the day to day busy work of creating a new academic institution and executing the different government decrees, “was the nurturing and acceptance of the integration of teaching, research and outreach functions of this fledgling national agricultural university. This represented a radical departure from the traditional approach to higher education in agriculture and required commitment to the concept by all levels from the President of the country to the faculty members and many important officials in-between. The process proceeded very deliberately and gradually became defined, understood, and accepted.”〔 The great ones The Institute’s Director General was Rene OWONA. (Later when the Institute became a University Center, the Director General title was correspondingly upgraded to that of Rector). Owona was a brilliant man with many talents. Like many Cameroonians he was also multilingual. In addition to his tribal language, he was superbly fluent in both French and English and a good scholar of history. By 1990, Owona was pulled out of the UCD and appointed Minister of Commerce. His close ties to the Presidency came in handy on several occasions. One such occasion, was when some of the foreign faculty at ENSA in Yaounde refused to move to Dschang. This forced the GoC to provide dual facilities – housing and offices – in both locations. Besides the cost element, it made for a less than ideal setup. These faculty who preferred to reside in Yaounde were often absent from activities in Dschang and students had reduced access to them. After several years of this, an impressive convoy of black vehicles came to Dschang one day and it drove through the campus. It is rumored that its passengers had come to survey the facilities. It was also rumored that its passengers were not just anybody. The tour did not last long. But the next day, an edict came out of the Presidency that all ENSA faculty still in Yaounde were to move to Dschang. Owona’s behind the scene efforts was widely accredited with this very positive outcome. Upon his departure, Owona was replaced by Professor Jean MFOULU who was transferred from the Ministry, where he was Director for Higher Education. His primary base though was the University of Yaounde, where he was a much respected professor of sociology. Mfoulu, held a Ph.D from Boston University. One of USA’s prestigious universities. But, he also had degrees from the Cameroonian system and the French system. He thus knew the strengths and weaknesses of the three systems and put this knowledge to good use. He was a brilliant man with an open mind. These attributes liberated him to examine options without prejudice. Not surprisingly he was highly respected in the country and at the University of Yaounde and at ENSA. Love of country The love of country permeated the thinking of both Owona and Mfoulu. No question was off limits to these two scholars. How could they build this new institution so that it functions as intended? They wanted to know. Should the institution be ruthless internally (selective) to do more good in the country? Or should it help produce as many graduates as it can (implying perhaps a lower standard)? What kind of research should it do? “Hartmann, should we still be teaching Jean Paul Sartre, when we cannot even feed ourselves?” Mfoulu would ask. Many long hours, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning, such questions were debated in small groups with faculty. On some weekends, at Hartmann’s house the debates would continue late into the night between Mfoulu and Hartmann. It was truly beneficial that at the very delicate stage of its creation, the institution benefited from two great minds like those of Owona and Mfoulu. Supporting them was Djoukam, the calm and cool Vice Rector. Djoukam, like many tagged as vice or deputy, made no waves. He just worked hard to ensure that the train was running on schedule. No small feat for a new institution. Superb collaboration To help in deciding on the focus of the Institute’s research direction, Mfoulu and Hartmann agreed to conduct a nationwide contest on the priority agricultural problems of Cameroon. To encourage participation it was decided to attach an enticing monetary price to it. Since the proposed prize amount had not been budgeted for, and would be, if approved paid for by US government funds, the UF project had to request permission from US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Yaounde. The USAID project officer then was Dr. Max Williams. A wonderful man was Williams. He had a burning desire to accelerate development in the poor world and did not limit himself to bureaucratic obstacles. He worked hard to find solutions. Williams worked very closely with the Cameroon and UF Team to the benefit of the project. Williams was not in a position to decide on the special funding for the national contest, but true to spirit, instead of simply turning down the request he took the trouble to communicate the request to Washington. Washington responded positively. It authorized the prize money with the comment that ‘it was an excellent use of project funds’. Thus encouraged Mfoulu and Hartmann, proceeded with the national competition. National announcements were made via radio and newspapers. At Dschang, the search and assembly of an outstanding Selection Committee was undertaken. Experts from all over the country were considered and sixteen members selected. A successful national completion on the country’s agricultural priorities was the outcome. The above example provides a snap shot of the collaborative spirit at Dschang. All levels of the institution - the administration, the faculty and support stuff - were ‘into’ the success of the undertaking to build a better educational institution. There were many other such collaborations. The final external evaluation of the program noted “The enthusiasm and commitment of the administration, faculty and staff to the UCDs mission is strong. Moreover, the students are eager and of high quality.” 〔 It further observed “Good relationships and respect between counterparts, so necessary for effectiveness, are evident. This is particularly obvious in the relationship of the Chief of Party and the Director General of UCDs. All this is not to imply that there are not critical needs yet to be addressed in UCDs' development and maturation.” 〔 One of the critical needs not accomplished, was the new infrastructure. There was a four-year delay on its construction, imposing serious strains on all program components – student housing, library, administrative facilities, research facilities, etc. What can be noted is that the tremendous programmatic progress at Dschang was achieved in spite of the enormous infrastructure delays.〔 Another source of strain was the way the training of faculty was programmed. During the duration of the project, over fifty Cameroonian professionals received graduate training. This was an overall achievement, but it did not come easy. Sending so many (almost half of UCD staff) for long-term studies put a huge burden on the remaining faculty and students. Only the strong collaborative spirit of the remaining faculty – American, Belgium, Cameroonian, and French - and the use to teaching assistants from external institutions saw UCD through this difficult time. In the end, ‘all is well that ends well’. Their overseas training completed, the returnees took up positions as faculty members. They made impressive contributions working tirelessly and with enthusiasm. In years to come some moved on to powerful positions in the Institution as heads of departments, and vice rectors, and others move to different ministries. Beyond Cameroon At the teaching and research programs of UCD consolidated, it became obvious that the institution was also playing a regional role, particularly in training but also in its research collaborations. Neighboring countries, like Chad, were sending students to Dschang. It was increasingly involved in regional training with international agencies like IITA, ILCA, and ICIPE. Dschang’s bilingual capacity is a major asset. Making it a rather unique academic institution. UCD to UD By 1993, the UCD was upgraded to a full-fledged university and given the name, Dschang University. It has over 800 academic staff and about 10 to 14000 students. ---- Update on some key personnel Francois Kamajou rose to be the head of department and is today Emeritus Professor. Tchala Abina rose to be the Director of INADER and later to ministerial level in Government. Jean Ongla, rose to be Associate Professor and later Vice Rector in charge of Education. Mpoame Mbida became head of his department and is today, Vice Rector. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「University of Dschang」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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