Background
2021
ECSSSUP created a new Advisory Board with new members (see ‘Who are we?) to work alongside the Trustee Board. ECSSSUP has been able to fund two new vehicles for TEU, as well as funding for the partnership with Engineering Ministries International that will work alongside TEU to design and plan the TEU central campus site in Rokon.
TEU has conducted a geo and hydro physical survey of the Rokon site and is in the process of constructing boreholes with solar powered pumps and storage. Kajo Keji Christian College has returned to its campus from a number of years in exile in Uganda. All the colleges are resuming classes in autumn 2021.
2020
ECSSSUP appointed Mrs Caroline Welby as Patron. Caroline leads a programme, Women on the Frontline, which supports and equips women leaders in the Anglican Communion, especially in relation to their ministries of reconciliation.
ECSSSUP continued to fund the staff in the central office of The Episcopal University. At the end of the year, ECSSSUP received a large anonymous donation of £200,000 which will be used as seed funding for the next stage of the development of the TEU campus and infrastructure
The TEU Senate and Principals met during 2020, working on shared curricula and financial systems. The impact of covid meant that face to face teaching was interrupted resulting in significant hardship for both students and staff.
2019
In December 2019, Eeva John, Anne Tutt and Hanna John - three trustees of ECSSSUP - held Project Management and Governance workshops with the staff and trustees of The Episcopal University in Juba.
The Archbishops of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Principals and staff of participating Colleges formally validated TEU after a week of consultations. Ron Hart and Anne Tutt, trustees of ECSSSUP attended the celebrations. Read more here.
TEU has moved to a new office adjacent to Bishop Gwynne College in Juba and has negotiated land for the 'central campus' and the TEU administrative centre in Rokon, 50 miles west of Juba.
The Episcopal University celebrates its validation and lays the foundation stone for the central campus in Rokon!
The foundation stone for the university was laid in December 2019. Watch the video of the ceremony and celebrations:
2018
A staff team has been recruited to assist the Project Director, Revd Dr Joseph Bilal, to manage the process of forming the Episcopal University from its participating colleges. They began work on 1st March 2018. The team consists of
Project Manager, Revd Joseph Ajang Atem
Administration and Finance Officer, Mr Junub Maker Riak
Logistics Officer, Mr Hakim Majok Barkuie
Personal Assistant, Ms Florence Joggo.
The team is based in a new office in Juba which was opened on 13th April 2018.
Financial policies and systems have been established and a fundraising strategy has been drawn up with the assitance of ECSSSUP trustee, Anne Tutt, who visited the team in February 2018.
A number of projects have been identified that need urgent funds. Click here to find out more about these.
The Project Management Board had its last meeting in August 2018 and Archbishop Justin Badi is in the process of forming a new University Governing Council. Principals of participating colleges in Kajo Keji (Kajo Keji Christian College), Maridi (Chaima Christian Institute), Renk (Renk Theological College), Wau (St John's College) and Juba (Bishop Gwynne College) - will meet regularly to support the work.
2017
The Episcopal University has become legally incorporated as part of the process of becoming registered with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology as a private university.
A TEU Workshop was held in April 2017, at which the Vision, Mission, Objectives and Values of the university were agreed. Eight participating institutions were represented and agreed the core curriculum for the first year of study for all students, as well as agreeing which of the eight institutions were ready to become the 'phase 1' institutions to launch the university.
A core curriculum is being written with the expertise of HE colleagues in South Sudan and UK.
2016
Participating colleges and institutions have been assessed for academic standards, governance and financial viability in preparation for the next steps in the registration process for private universities in South Sudan.
In April 2016 we held a consultation meeting in Juba, which brought together more than 57 delegates from all over South Sudan and Sudan, including our partners from the UK. The purpose of the consultation was to build confidence in the future of the university, to confirm the collaborative manner in which this will take place, and to build commitment to agreed actions. The Episcopal University was established as the official name of the new university and a logo has been designed - see right.
2015
The formation of the Episcopal University was unanimously endorsed by the General Synod of the ECSS&S and the project was registered with the Government of South Sudan in December 2015.
2014
A Project Management Board was established in Juba, South Sudan, January 2014 to oversee the work of the Project Manager and to progress the development of the project.
The work of the Board has focused on institutional assessments, land negotiations, fundraising and registration of the project with the government of South Sudan. ECSS&S theological and other higher education institutions have been assessed to determine the institutions' capacity to be part of the launch of the foundation programme. Areas covered included the institutions’ history, legal status, partnerships, governance, management and administration, staffing, admissions policy, quality of teaching and learning, library and other learning resources, land and assets, finance and student support
2013
Rev Dr Joseph Bilal was appointed Project Manager, based in Juba, in November 2013. Accommodation, office accommodation and salary have been provided by the ECSSS.
"We exist to transform and change the lives and livlihood of our people by providing higher education services that not only enhance knowledge and skills, but also instil faithfulness, humility, obedience, dedication and commitment in serving the church and the nation"
ECSS&S University Concept Paper, July 2015