The Vice-Chancellor and Principal (VCP) of the University of Sierra Leone, Prof. Aiah Lebbie, has announced that the 2026/2027 academic year will commence in October 2026.
Speaking during the opening session of a Senate meeting held in the University Committee Room at University House, Fourah Bay College (FBC), Prof. Lebbie emphasized that the timeline is non-negotiable.
*”It is a mandate from the Government through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), and the University community must ensure its implementation,”* he stated.
The VCP commended the Ministry for its continued support, particularly in the area of fee collection. He also acknowledged the Faculties of Law and Communication for their efforts in ensuring students meet their fee obligations and encouraged other faculties to follow suit.
Addressing the issue of staff promotions, Prof. Lebbie stressed the need for fairness, transparency, and adherence to established regulations.
*”We need fairness and compliance with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) guidelines as much as possible,”* he said.
He explained that upon assuming office, he became aware of concerns and challenges surrounding the promotion process. To address these issues, he established a committee comprising retired professors, academics from other universities, and internal faculty members to oversee the assessment and scoring process.
According to the VCP, the Registry is currently processing the necessary documentation to expedite promotions. He further noted that the Academic Staff Association (ASA) should play a leading role in the process, of reviewing the existing criteria, while the University will continue to apply the approved TEC promotion guidelines until any revisions are formally adopted.
On academic programmes, Prof. Lebbie highlighted the need for curriculum reform to align university offerings with evolving national and global demands.
“The curriculum review is intended to respond to the changing landscape and labour market demands, while ensuring that our graduates remain competitive and employable,” he explained.
The VCP also announced proposed changes to postgraduate dissertation submissions aimed at reducing costs and administrative burdens on students.
“I prefer the use of electronic submissions rather than printed hard copies,” he said.
However, he cautioned that quality assurance must remain a priority, particularly where dissertations are published online.
“If dissertations are to be published on the University’s website, supervisors must ensure that they meet the required standards and quality benchmarks in order to protect the institution’s integrity and credibility,” he emphasized.
Prof. Lebbie further underscored the importance of language studies in the revised curriculum framework, encouraging students to pursue both major and minor subject combinations, with particular emphasis on foreign language proficiency.
In closing, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal expressed appreciation to both academic and administrative staff for their continued commitment and support to the University.
© *Dr. Tonya Musa*
Director of Communication and International Relations University of Sierra Leone
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 11th June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
