NBGS pledges support to newly appointed vice chancellor

By Ngor Arol Garang

May 16, 2010 (WUNROK) — Authorities and intellectuals from southern state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, both at home and in the Diaspora, have pledged their support to the newly appointed vice chancellor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal University, Dr. John Apuruot Akec.

Akec, who was recently appointed by central government presidential decree, becomes the first vice chancellor to be appointed by president of the republic of Sudan to establish such a higher learning institution in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

His appointment came following pledges made twice to the people of two decades long war ravaged state of Aweil by President Omer Al-Bashir, who, in one of his visits to the area in June 2004, pledged to establish university and reiterated the same when he again visited the state in 2010 during electoral campaign. .

Until his appointment on Monday, 03 2010, Akec was known to have been an assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering and Deputy Director of Centre for Computer Studies, the University of Juba, since 2007. His teaching interests have included mechanical design, automatic control, artificial intelligence, and internet technologies.

He studied at Gogrial Primary School (1967-73), Kuajok Junior (1973-76), and Rumbek Secondary School (1976-79). He graduated with BSc. Honours in Applied Physics and Electronics from University of Gezira in 1985. Later, he obtained a Diploma in Electronic Engineering and Master of Science in Systems Engineering from University of Wales College of Cardiff (UK) in 1991 and 1992 respectively, specialising in Automation and Robotics.

John was awarded a Doctorate of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering from University of Birmingham, United Kingdom 2000. In 2005 he was awarded Postgraduate Certificate in Environmental Innovation by the University Of Manchester, United Kingdom

His work experience include employment as biomedical engineer, Khartoum Radiation and Isotopes Centre, Ministry of Health, Khartoum (1986-87), teaching assistant in physics at University of Juba (1987-90), research assistant University of Central England in Birmingham, software engineer at Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, (1999-2000), research scientist, Centre for Virtual Environments, University of Salford (2000-2002), visiting lecturer School of Engineering University of Birmingham (2003-2003). He also worked as freelance analyst for mobile phone market in Africa for Juniper Research limited (2006).

John Akec held membership of many international professional bodies that included associate membership of Institute of Electrical Engineers (UK); and full membership of Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), IEEE Computer Society, and Association of Computing Machinery (ACM).

His hobbies include blogging and he edits blog: www.JohnAkecSouthSudan.blogspot.com

He is a regular contributor to the Sudan Tribune and the writes a column in the Citizen newspaper.

Recently, Dr. Akec has been appointed the Vice Chancellor of the newly established University of Northern Bhar El-Ghazal.

(ST)