MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Somali National University (SNU) has announced plans to establish a new campus in Beledweyne, the capital of the Hiiraan region, in a move aimed at expanding access to higher education and strengthening academic opportunities in central Somalia.
The initiative is part of the university’s broader strategy to extend its presence beyond Mogadishu and make quality public education more accessible to students across the country.
According to university officials, the proposed campus will offer a range of undergraduate and professional degree programs tailored to meet the educational and workforce needs of the region. The expansion is also expected to ease the financial burden on students who currently travel to Mogadishu and other cities to pursue higher education.
The new campus is expected to play a key role in developing skilled professionals in fields such as education, healthcare, agriculture, engineering, and public administration.
Local leaders and education stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important investment that will improve educational access, create new opportunities for young people, and contribute to the socio-economic development of Hiiraan and surrounding regions.
Founded in 1954 and officially reopened in 2014 after more than two decades of closure caused by Somalia’s civil conflict, the Somali National University has continued to expand its academic programs and restore its infrastructure.
In recent years, the university has pursued an ambitious expansion strategy by establishing campuses in several regions to increase access to higher education and support the country’s long-term development.
Although university officials have not yet announced a construction timeline or an official opening date for the Beledweyne campus, the project reflects the Federal Government’s continued commitment to strengthening Somalia’s higher education system and improving educational opportunities throughout the country.