Stella Maris Polytechnic University (SMPU) is a private university in
Monrovia
Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As th ...
, Liberia. Founded in 1988, the school is owned and operated by the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia. Located on Capitol Hill, the school has approximately 2,300 students. The school is recognized by Liberia's National Commission on Higher Education as an approved baccalaureate granting school of higher learning,
and is a member of the
Association of African Universities
The Association of African Universities (AAU) ( ar, اتحاد الجامعات الأفريقية, french: Association des universités africaines) is a university association of African universities based in Accra, Ghana. With member institutio ...
.
History
The school traces its history back to the
Arthur Barclay Vocational Institute that had its roots in a donation of land to the church in 1972.
Eventually the planned school was renamed as the Arthur Barclay Technical Institute and first held classes in February 1979.
[ Catholic leaders then considered starting a Catholic college beginning in 1985, which eventually led to the establishment of Don Bosco Polytechnic.][ That school included Arthur Barclay Technical Institute which then became the Arthur Barclay Technical Institute.][
The larger institution was chartered by the ]Liberian Legislature
The Legislature of Liberia is the bicameral legislature of the government of Liberia. It consists of a Senate – the upper house, and a House of Representatives – the lower house, modeled after the United States Congress. Sessions are held at ...
on August 15, 1988.[ Due to civil strife in the country, Don Bosco did not begin operating until 1993 when the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences opened.][ Then in January 1997 the school's board resolved to open the larger institution, which occurred in November of that year.][ Don Bosco Polytechnic was then renamed as Stella Maris Polytechnic in 2005.][
In May 2007, Ireland's troops serving as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia donated 21 computers as well as a large container of books to the SMP. As of 2009, the school had 2,090 students enrolled.]
References
External links
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Universities and colleges in Monrovia
Educational institutions established in 1988
1988 establishments in Liberia