TUS moves to establish new office in African city
Athlone's university is set to have a stronger presence in Africa in the near future as it bids to increase the number of students it attracts from the vast continent in the years ahead.
Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) has announced its intentions to establish a representative office in Lagos, a former capital of Nigeria and one of the Africa's largest cities which is home to more than 15 million people.
With two dedicated staff members, the office will act as TUS’s representative in Africa. It will also support the promotion of TUS programmes to undergraduate and postgraduate students, agents, high schools and universities across Africa, recently published tender documents seeking a provider to establish the office indicate.
TUS already has over to 120 full time African students, studying across a wide variety of programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, over 60% of which come from Nigeria, the documents add.
However, the country's third technological university is also seeing a growth in numbers from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon and South Africa.
“The TUS International Office has been operational in Africa for the past five years and is seeking to establish a representative office in Africa to increase student recruitment numbers and provide student recruitment support services to students, parents, agents, high schools and universities in Africa,” the tender notice, with a deadline of November 25 explains.
Among the functions of the new office is the promotion of TUS in Africa, developing links with appropriate colleges and universities to create pathway programmes for advanced entry to TUS, and representing the university at approved exhibitions, education fairs, agent fairs and school visits.
The office would also be responsible for organising training seminars and events with relevant agencies in key strategic African cities, providing visa support to students and TUS agents, work with the TUS International Office designing and implementing marketing campaigns aimed at the African market and contacting alumni to develop career profiles/testimonials of TUS African graduates.
It would also provide feedback to TUS on the demands for potential new programmes, and undertake research into new areas of the continent where TUS is not currently active.
Home to a total of 14,000 students and 2,000 staff, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) operates across six campuses in Athlone, Limerick, Thurles, Clonmel, and Ennis and was only established in October of last year.
It says its international office is committed to strengthening the Technological University of the Shannon’s international profile “through student recruitment, supporting academic and student mobility, building strategic partnerships and encouraging alumni engagement worldwide” as part of its overall mission to develop “a contemporary and vibrant technological university” for the Midlands and Midwest regions it serves into the future.