Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry

Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry is the largest university in Guinea. It is found in the Dixinn Commune area of Conakry, the capital city of Guinea. Most people call it simply the University of Conakry.

The university plays an important role in education in Guinea, offering many different subjects for students to study. It helps prepare young people for jobs and further learning.

Named after Gamal Abdel Nasser, an important leader from Egypt, the university shows the strong connection between Guinea and other countries that care about education and progress.

History

The Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry began in 1962 as the Institut Polytechnique de Conakry, the first higher education school in Guinea, with help from the Soviet Union. This happened during a time of growth in the country after it gained independence. In 1970, the school was renamed the Institut Polytechnique Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry (IPGAN), after the well-known Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. In 1989, it was renamed again to the Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry.

In 1965, another school called the École supérieure d'administration joined the Institut Polytechnique. By 2007, the university had a computer network with a fiber optic backbone and 1,000 computers for staff. The United States Agency for International Development helped set up this network and the internet connection. Each faculty has a computer lab, but there are far more users than computers. The university also offers online courses. In 2002, the university changed its rules by stopping its entrance exam.

Faculties

Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry has 13 schools and faculties. One of these is the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, which has separate departments for each area. There is also a Faculty of Sciences with departments for biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The university includes a Centre for Study and Environmental Research, a Computing Centre, and a Polytechnic Institute with departments such as electrical engineering, civil engineering, and computer engineering.

In 2015, Guinea and the Institut Pasteur signed an agreement to create the Institut Pasteur of Guinea, which will operate as an independent department of the university. The university also houses the Herbier National De Guinée, Guinea’s national herbarium.

Notable alumni

One famous graduate of Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry is Fatoumata Barry, who became Guinea's first woman architect.