We are excited to begin this week with a meaningful sectoral retreat in Kanilai, West Coast Region, as we embark on a three-day engagement from July 28th to 30th, 2025. This event marks the second quarter retreat of the tertiary and higher education sector for 2025.
Throughout the retreat, institutions under the Ministry will present key programmes, highlight their activities, share challenges, and outline their plans for the third and fourth quarters of 2025. Institutions will also provide updates on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) adopted during the first sector retreat held in February 2025.
This retreat is expected to enhance operational capabilities, strengthen coordination, and improve service delivery across the sector. It aims to foster the exchange of ideas and best practices, address challenges, and explore opportunities for resource mobilisation, all while enhancing programme implementation and institutional synergy.
We are honoured to have the following esteemed leaders in attendance:
• The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Hon. Professor Pierre Gomez
• The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ambassador Jainaba Jagne
• The Chairperson of the Governing Council, University of The Gambia – Prof. Momodou Mustapha Fanneh
• The Chairperson of the Governing Council, University of Education, The Gambia – Alieu Badara Senghore
• The Vice Chairperson of the Governing Council, University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology – Isatou D. Sawanneh
• The Chairperson of the Governing Council, Civil Service University – Dr. Burama L. J. Jammeh
• The Chairperson of the Governing Council, National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority – Alhaji Momodou Jallow
• The Deputy Permanent Secretary (Admin/Finance) – Ndeye Fatou Trawally
• The Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical) – Mucktarr M. Y. Darboe
• Vice Chancellors and Provosts of the Ministry’s line institutions
• Directors, Unit Heads, and the Ministry’s technical and administrative staff
The retreat kicked off with a warm welcome from Permanent Secretary Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, who congratulated the Honourable Minister and all stakeholders for the successful first-quarter sector retreat held from February 10–14, 2025. That retreat, she said, enabled stakeholders to reflect on achievements, examine challenges, and agree on resolutions and KPIs aligned with the sector’s shared vision.
Ambassador Jagne acknowledged the significance and timeliness of the current retreat and highlighted that the retreat would provide the higher education sector the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange innovative ideas, and collaborate on strategies that will further enhance the quality and accessibility of tertiary and higher education in the country.
“Our collective efforts are crucial in ensuring that tertiary and higher continue to be responsive, innovative and competitive even at the global level. Together, we will achieve the academic excellence driven by impactful research and produce innovative and scientifically minded citizens who are well-equipped to compete nationally and but also on the global stage”, she noted
The Honourable Minister Professor Pierre Gomez reflected on the February retreat, calling it a bold step in redefining how the Ministry governs, funds, and grows the business of higher education in The Gambia, and that the inauguration of the retreat yielded a comprehensive set of 23 resolutions focused on institutional accountability, digital transformation, governance, performance management, and sustainable development.
Minister Gomez emphasised that with the establishment of a cross-institutional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Framework and performance contracts, his ministry will be able to set clear expectations and measurable targets.
“Today, nearly six months later, we are called upon to answer a simple but weighty question: Have we delivered on what we promised?” he questioned.
He announced that the theme of the second quarter retreat, “Accelerating Transformation: From Commitments to Impact”, signals a decisive shift from deliberation to delivery, from aspiration to action, and from policy frameworks to lived realities.
The Minister reiterated that this is not merely a review meeting, but a strategic checkpoint, a space to take stock, reassess direction, and make informed adjustments as the sector navigates the second half of 2025.
The objectives of the retreat include:
Evaluating institutional progress against KPIs and the February 2025 resolutions,
Identifying and resolving implementation bottlenecks,
Recalibrating strategic priorities in line with current realities, and
Strengthening stakeholder alignment across our ecosystem.
We look forward to a productive and transformative week ahead as we work together to continue building a stronger, more impactful higher education sector.
#HigherEducation #Retreat #TheGambia #2025StrategicGoals #EducationTransformation
Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved