A weak research track record makes it difficult for the USL to secure funding for research activities
The University of Sierra Leone is a public university located in Freetown. Established in 1827 as Fourah Bay College, it was the first Western-style institution of higher learning in West Africa. Freetown was even nicknamed "the Athens of West Africa" due to the presence of the college. Currently, the USL consists of three constituent colleges. Fourah Bay College is the oldest college and specializes in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Sciences. The Church Missionary Society founded it. The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) was established in 1980. IPAM initially trained civil servants but now serves as the university's business school. It offers programs in business, IT, finance, and public administration. The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) focuses on training medical and health professionals. The university is featured in Times Higher Education 's global "Impact Rankings," which assess universitie...