Free University of the Great Lakes Countries

De **Free University of the Great Lakes Countries** (French: ***Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs***, dem colloquially refer to am by ein acronym **ULPGL**), be private Christian educational institution wey dey locate insyd Goma, insyd de North Kivu Province of de eastern region of de Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Na dem found ULPGL insyd 1985, as result of de Institut Supérieur de Théologie Protestante wey na dem grant am university status by de government insyd 1991. Ebe sponsored by six Protestant denominations, wey dey include two Baptists (CBCA den CEBCE), two Pentecostals (CELPA den CADAF), one Anglican (EAC), den one Methodist (CLMC).

Plus vision make e provide quality education den research dem tailor to de needs of de African Great Lakes Region, ULPGL dey consist of six academic faculties den oda educational institutions, such as nursery den primary school (EMP Kauta) den secondary school (Metanoïa Institute). De university mainly dey attract students from de Great Lakes region, wich dey include countries such as DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, den occasionally Uganda den Tanzania.

## History

De establishment of ULPGL ein lineage dey trace back to de collaborative endeavors of six Protestant ecclesiastical communities, wey dey include two Baptist entities (Communauté Baptiste au Centre de l'Afrique; CBCA den Communauté des Églises Baptistes du Congo-Est; CEBCE), two Pentecostal congregations (Communauté des Églises Libres de Pentecôte; CELPA den Communauté Assemblée de Dieu à l'Est du Congo; CADAF), one Anglican denomination (Afrique den Église Anglicane du Congo; EAC), den one Methodist association (CLMC). Initially dem found am insyd 1985 as de Institut Supérieur de Théologie Protestante (ISTP), na de university undergo significant transformation for August 16, 1991, wen na dem officially establish am as de Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (ULPGL) as dem ordain by Order N°ESU/CABMIN/0188/91.

Dis pivotal juncture herald de university ein expansive educational scope, dey incorporatile de Faculty of Protestant Theology den Faculty of Law. Na de accreditation of ULPGL ein academic credentials make dem solidify am by Order N°ESURS/CABMIN/0108/92, date February 5, 1992, wey dem further augment by Ministerial Order N°ESURES/CABMIN/A5/0022/96 of January 31, 1996, wey dey endorse de university ein establishment. Prime Ministerial Decree No. 0016 of May 27, 1996, grant ULPGL plus legal personality, wey dey elevate am to de status of "Public Utility Establishment". Na dem consecrate am de ultimate imprimatur by Presidential Decree No. 06/0106 of June 12, 2006.

For ein commitment make e expand access to education, ULPGL embark for de establishment of two campuses insyd Bukavu (South Kivu) den Butembo (North Kivu) insyd 2001. Dese campuses evolve into autonomous universities, namely ULPGL-Bukavu den ULPGL-Butembo, alongsyd de original ULPGL-Goma, dem sanso know am as de mother university.

## Campuses

De ULPGL get three campuses insyd de eastern region of de Democratic Republic of the Congo: Goma, Bukavu, den Butembo.

### ULPGL-Goma
Goma dey host two campuses of ULPGL: Moïse den Salomon. De Moïse Campus, dey comprise de Faculty of Theology, student residences, den scholarly lodgings give professors, na MEU erect am, while CPFP from Hamburg, facilitate de development of de Salomon Campus, housing faculties such as Law, Economics, Science of Education, den accommodations give male students den visiting professors.

### ULPGL-Bukavu
Insyd Bukavu, ULPGL dey operate plus variety of faculties wey dey include Theology (FT), Economic Sciences den Management (FSEG), Community Health den Development (FSDC), den Psychology den Sciences of Education (FPSE). Despite minimal reception infrastructure, de university secure land insyd de commune of Ibanda, insyd de Kasihe district, for future expansion.

### ULPGL-Butembo
Insyd Butembo, ULPGL dey operate four faculties: Theology, Economic den Management Sciences, Community Health den Development, den Psychology den Educational Sciences. Construction dey underway for two plots of land top, one dey locate insyd Makoma, Katwa district, den de oda insyd Kinyatsi, make e further enhance de university ein academic offerings den infrastructure.

## Governance den organization

De ULPGL be governed by combination of ein Board of Directors, university council, scientific council, den management committee lead by Rector.

Dem organize de university around six faculties:

### Faculty of Theology
De Faculty of Theology dey aim make e critically examine contemporary societal values den norms from Christian perspective. E dey offer intellectual den moral training while dey contribute to de spiritual fulfillment of de community. Thru services like de Chaplaincy den de Polyvalent Center for Vocational Training (CPFP), de faculty dey provide diverse educational avenues.

### Faculty of Law
Plus mission make dem combat legal underdevelopment den ignorance of de law within de community, de Faculty of Law dey undertake research, dey host consultation frameworks, den dey operate programs like de Legal Clinic for de Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence. Dese initiatives dey aim make e promote human rights den facilitate legal assistance for vulnerable individuals.

### Faculty of Economic Sciences den Management

Dis faculty dey support local development initiatives by make dem dey provide technical support den training people capable of make dem dey create den dey manage businesses sustainably. Thru actions such as make dem dey support cooperatives, microfinance, den dey offer professional IT training via de Computer den Business Management Center (CIME).

### Faculty of Health den Community Development
Dem focus for make dem dey equip learners plus de knowledge den skills make dem improve community health den integral development, dis faculty dey foster partnerships plus communities den implements projects such as education for malaria prevention den dey evaluate social reintegration programs top. E actively dey contribute make e dey promote health for all den hygiene insyd de city of Goma.

### Faculty of Psychology den Educational Sciences
Dey train educators den administrators, dey conduct research give educational improvement, den dey offer services make e enhance learning quality.

### Faculty of Science den Applied Technology
Dis faculty dey provide technical support for local development initiatives den dey train individuals make dem introduce appropriate technologies while dem dey consider ecological preservation. E dey aim make e empower people make dem implement sustainable development practices for dema environment insyd.

## Schools den research centers

ULPGL be home to diverse range of schools den research centers wey dey provide diverse academic den research opportunities.

### Educational Institutions

#### EMP Kauta
EMP Kauta be renowned nursery den primary school dem name after one of de first CBCA pastors insyd de city. Initially, na e dey cater to de kiddies of married ISTP students per, but ein stellar reputation draw students from all over de city.

#### Metanoïa Institute
Dem establish am insyd 2001, de Metanoïa Institute be leading secondary school insyd Goma. E dey provide top-tier education for all levels wey e cam turn one of de city ein most prominent benchmark school.

### Research Centers

* Centre Polyvalent pour la Formation Professionnelle (CPFP)
* Centre Informatique et de Management des Entreprises (CIME)

* Centre Africain de Recherche et d’Education à la Paix et à la Démocratie (CAREPD)

* Legal Clinic
* University Hospital Center (University Dispensary)

## References