Online & Distance Learning Program

The University of Bosaso distance learning program is as old as the university existence. It gave many students, who have the tight work schedules or in a long distance, the opportunity to continue with their studies while at home. The program is aimed at reducing the difficulties students face in finding the time and funding to come to the university to study, and therefore developed the Distance learning program to make available specialized and advanced training in the Puntland, Somaliland and Somalia in general. The program will be extended to all over the world in the near future. Studying through the distance learning system provides an attractive option for those financially challenged, commitment to work or family, or lack of access to higher education on a full time basis due to other reasons.

Address: Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia, Tel: +252907738794/7721336/7597542

Email: info@uonb.edu.so

Website: www.uob.edu.so

GENERAL INFORMATION

The University of Bosaso is a very fast growing academic institution of Higher learning that is still at its infant stages, formerly known as Bosaso College and has achieved a remarkable growth within the shortest time of its existence. The College has risen to the top level with great support from the founders, the hosting community and international organizations.

The University was launched in January, 2006 by local intellectuals and Community members both inside the country and diaspora and supports from international organizations.

Currently, faculties range from Social Sciences, Humanities, Computer Science, Health Science, Commerce and Modern Management and Faculty of Education. The University has a parallel English course that bridges students willing to improve their proficiency. The University is known for its exceptional quality training that is exemplified amongst our trainees wherever they are absorbed both in the job market and in other academic institutions. The first batch graduated in February 2012.

University Educational Philosophy

UoB is dedicated to the belief that individualized, facilitative and socially useful profession education requires a combination of professional and theoretical training balanced with responsible participation in society, more so, its philosophy is founded on the two Islamic key elements of NAQLI (on basis of the holy Qur’an and Hadith) and AQLI (on the basis of reasoning). These two elements are essential in the development of individuals to their fullest potential, thereby bringing forth people who are knowledgeable, skillful, faithful, pious and excellent characters which are fundamental in the realization and emergence of national identity based on Islamic teachings.

Vision

Positively transforming the Society through offering quality knowledge, life changing skills, nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, becoming agent of change and to be the leading and the preferred University in the region and the World

Mission

To offer quality of education and training, research and development, producing excellent, holistic, self reliance individuals committed to creativity and innovations.

Delivering of expectations and Surpassing target and goals, exercising highest level of standards and best practices in the world, being socially responsible to the citizens, Nation, environment and the world at large

Core Values

1. Professionalism
2. Quality service delivery
3. Creativity and innovation
4. Team Work and team Spirit
5. Commitment
6. Highest level of Discipline

Objectives

1. To restore a sense of direction for the young generation and thus reduce their involvement in anti-social practices.
2. To pioneer a tradition of professional education countrywide.
3. T o attract Somali Diasporas back home as professionals, in effort of employment creation as well as discourage brain-drain for those seeking higher education in foreign countries.
4. To make available to all school graduates the intellectual training and professional acquired skills that adds meaning to scope, richness and interest in career development.
5. To promote social and intellectual interaction between the University of Bossaso, students, academic staff and alumni.
6. Advocate for Freedom of thought and expressions in academic inquiry and other activities.
7. Undertake research programs that meet needs of the business community, government and the humanitarian and development organizations, analyze the current future and propose interventions and strategies.

ONLINE AND DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM (ODL)

The University of Bosaso distance learning program is as old as the university existence. It gave many students, who have the tight work schedules or in a long distance, the opportunity to continue with their studies while at home. The program is aimed at reducing the difficulties students face in finding the time and funding to come to the university to study, and therefore developed the Distance learning program to make available specialized and advanced training in the Puntland, Somaliland, Somalia and world over. Studying through the distance learning system provides an attractive option for those financially challenged, commitment to work or family, or lack of access to higher education on a full time basis due to other reasons.

This mode of delivery minimizes a learner’s over reliance on the lecturer by utilizing a mix of multi-media technologies augmented with limited face-to-face interaction to facilitate knowledge acquisition (blended learning) and compressed learning. Through the ODL, the university has taken a more practical approach to pedagogy by incorporating advanced learning methods, thus fulfilling students learning needs.

MISSION OF THE ODL

The Mission of ODL is to provide alternative solutions to access quality education to those who are not able to attend theoretical classes due to their tight work schedules or financial quagmire or other problems.

VISION OF THE ODL

To be the leading provider of excellent, competitive and dynamic programs of Distance and Online courses in the local, regional and the global arena

ADVANTAGES OF ODL PROGRAM

1. Flexible academic engagements.
2. Space of time benefits.
3. Learning at the students’ pace
4. Available anytime and any-where.
5. Suitability to work and family scenarios
6. Affordable education
7. Various learning modes
8. Reduce the stress of travels
9. Student’s self-development

THE ODL COORDINATION CENTERS

The ODL program has been coordinated in all the regions in Puntland and Somaliland. The university recognized as the focal point in coordinating all other centers throughout Puntland and Somaliland. In relation to university extension programs, extra-mural campus  Garowe has now became fully fledged sister campus. Instituting other centers is underway and it will be fully operational by early 2021.  Therefore, all the online programmes is coordinated at the main campus.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES IN CEODL

The University offers a wide range of Certificate, Diploma and Degree programs spread across various faculties through the Faculty of Social Science, Faculty of Commerce and modern management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sharia, Faculty of Computer Science, Environmental Science and Faculty of Sharia and Law on Online and Distance Learning (ODL). For eligibility, one must have attained the minimum entry requirements as stipulated for each program.

1. Open, Distance and e-Learning
2. Community Development
3. Public Health
4. Human Resource Management
5. Social Work and Social Administration
6. Social Work and Social Administration
7. Nutrition and Food Science
8. Community Health
9. Information Technology
10. Environmental Health
11. Counselling
12. Logistics and Supply
13. Port Management
14. Aviation Management
15. Environmental Science
16. Fisheries and Marine Science
17. Early Childhood Education
18. Education (Arabic)
19. Child Protection
20. Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies
21. Sharia and Law
22. Media and Mass Communication

PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION

PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION

(i) Application for admission to the University Shall is made to:

The Admissions Office, University of Bosaso- Main Campus or emailed to E-mail: info@uob.edu.so

(ii) The Official application form is obtainable from the Admission’s Office or downloaded from the University Website: www.uob.edu.so

(iii) A duly completed/filled application form should then be submitted to the

Admission Office together with a non refundable application fee of $ 10

(iii) The closing date for receiving application forms shall be listed in the academic calendar as shall be determined by the University Senate.

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

1. Secondary certificate
2. 3 years work experience is required
3. Good command of English/Arabic language
4. photos of passport size
5. Application form
6. Admission test
7. Registration fees

Fees Structure for 2019/2021 academic year

All students are required to pay stated dues (Diploma $ 230 and Degree $ 290) to the University. The due’s are subject to change as the University Senate and Council may decide from time to time. The current fee structure is available as a separate document, which you can obtain from the Main Campus, Regional centers or from the University Website (www.uob.edu.so).

Payment of Fees

Fees are payable at the beginning of every semester to enable all students register for their programmes of study for the given semester.

Mode of Payment

All payments are made through bank deposits at Dhahabshil Bank or to the University Golis Account

Fees Installments

The University Tuitions fees are paid in TWO installments. First Installment is 50% of the total fees immediately after registrations to be able to access the learning materials. The other installment is paid before entering the exam. Full payment at the beginning of the exams is also accepted.

NB: Students will not access the learning materials before paying the first installment.

Accounts below:

Golis Account: 400606

Dhahabshil Bank Account: 8002602

Modes of study in ODL

The Distance Learning Program is partially/fully self-taught using the fully comprehensive materials provided and face-to-face tutorials at stipulated times of only the DL. All the necessary reading material to complete the courses i.e. Diplomas and Bachelors degrees are supplied on request or the students can get from the website. Access to computers is essential and these are provided at the Regional Centers for those who are unable to access them at home or in their locality. Students can also arrange for networking and mutual support amongst themselves through the ODL online learning system (www.uob.edu.so).

Mode of delivery

Distance learning courses at University of Bosaso are offered through print materials i.e. modules and a dedicated online learning system (e-Learning). Computer mediated learning will also conducted at respective coordination centers at no extra cost for students. Supplementary face-to-face tutorials are also conducted periodically a week or two before the end of each semester as appropriate for each course.

Program Duration

• Certificate students take a minimum of 4 months.
• Diploma students take a minimum of 1 year and maximum 2 years.
• Bachelors’ degree students take a minimum of 3 years to 4 years for Long Distance Learning.

Registration Status

At the beginning of each Semester/ Trimester a student shall be registered as a student of Online and Distance Learning. Registration for units to be taken in each semester/trimester will be done at the respective departments and Regional Centers.

Units Allowed Per Semester/Trimester

A student will be expected to register for only FIVE 5 units but cannot decide on lower/higher number. A student may take up an extra unit with special permission from the Principal of ODL in consultation with the Head of Academic Affairs (like having a degree from recognized university, working experience for more than 5 years among other as will be determined by ODL program manager). Only a student whose mean score from the previous semester/trimester is not less than 60% (C) will not be allowed to take more units for remedial learning. The units taken in a semester will include retake (where applicable). Students are only allowed to register units which are on the timetable, as advised by the mother department (s).

Duration of the Program

All students will be expected to complete their studies at the stipulated maximum time.

Upon arrival at the Main Campus/Regional Centers, the new students will be given full information on the course/unit requirements for their chosen programs by the relevant faculties.

ODL Examination Rules and Regulations

1. Results for CATs (course work) must be submitted online

Examination begins.

2. All courses shall be examined at the end of the semester/Trimester in which they are taken.
3. Each Unit/Subject shall be marked out of 100. An examination shall consist of

Course Work, which shall contribute to 40% and end of semester/Trimester examination, which will contribute to 60 %:

• CAT 20 %
• Assignment 20%
• Final exam 60%

4. The pass mark for certificate, Diploma and Bachelors programs shall be 50%. Only those students who are duly registered by the university and duly paid-up fees shall be allowed to do examinations. The marks shall be translated into literal grades as Tabulated below.
5. The deadline for the assignment must strictly consider by all the students who qualified for distance learning program (ODL). Failure to meet the deadline the lecturer’s have the right to disqualified the students from the subjects concern.

Grading System

The final results of all courses are recorded as letter grades. Each letter grade is assigned values in terms of points. These points are then used to compute the student’s GPA (Grade Point Average). The following chart shows the value assigned to each letter grade:

Letter Grade	Percent Mark	Points
A	80 – 100	5
B+	75 – 79.9	4.5
B	70 – 74.9	4
C+	65 – 69.9	3.5
C	60 – 64.9	3
D+	55 – 59.9	2.5
D	50 – 54.9	2
F

Below 50           0

Examination Results and Academics Transcripts

1. Students will be given results slips at the end of each Semester/Trimester.
2. Provisional results will be released by the Academic Office.
3. A transcript will be issued after payment of a fee at the Academic Office.
4. Transcripts will be only issued on the written request by the students to Director Academic Affairs.
5. A duplicate transcript will be issued at a fee when the original transcript is lost.
6. A Statement of Results may be issued at a fee to a student before completion of the program on application.

Letter of Completion

A testimonial letter will be issued on request by the Academic Office before graduation to those students who have successfully completed their program and met their entire financial obligations to the University.

Academic Warning/Discontinuation

A student whose Grade Point Average (GPA) is less than 2.0 for Undergraduates and in any one semester shall be given an Academic Warning (AW). A student will be discontinued if the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for two consecutive semesters or Three Trimesters is less than 2.0 (CGPA< 2.0) as will be approved by the university senate.

University of Bosaso

Academic Office