USAID-Liberia have donated several pieces of surveying equipment to the Engineering Department at the University  of Liberia valued US$210, 000 as part of the USAID-Excellence in Higher Education for Liberians Development project. USAID-Liberia want the equipment to be used to prepare engineering students at the University of Liberia in modern survey methodology.

The head of the USAID-EHELD project in Liberia, Yarkpazuo Kolva told newsmen that the  surveying equipment is additional support to the Excellence in Higher Education for Liberian Development project that is in its third year.

According to him, the pieces of equipment are to be used at the UL Center of Excellence for Engineering being created on the Fendell Campus of the university outside Monrovia.

It can be recalled that as a result of the shortage of competent Liberian surveyors, the USAID-EHELD project in partnership with the Land Policy and Institutional Support (LPIS) project, conducted a three-month surveying course at the Fendell campus facilitated by trained surveyors from America and the United Kingdom, endorsed by the Texas A&M University.

The three-month course produced 26 young Liberian surveyors  who completed basic professional training in land surveying practices, and are now contributing greatly to professional surveying across Liberia.

The USAID-EHELD project Chief of Party Yarkpazuo Kolva, who spoke during the presentation ceremony, acknowledged USAID’s financial and logistical support to the project and expressed gratitude for the consignment of equipment which he said would go a long way in enhancing academic learning and practical work at the University of Liberia, especially the Department of Engineering as it strives to prepare graduates to meet the future workforce needs of Liberia.

Mr. Kolva said when fully functional, the department would be equipped with some of the latest technologies in surveying 5tools such as total station and GPS.

According to the USAID-EHELD Boss, the surveying equipment apart from supporting normal academic programs will be used to conduct short courses for land surveyors from private and public institutions as part of the project’s effort in building the capacity of Liberians.

He explained that plans are underway to organize an appropriate program at which time the equipment will be officially turnover to faculty and students of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Liberia.

Executives of the USAID-EHELD project who witnessed the presentation ceremony include, Chief of Party Yarkpazuo Kolva and Mr. Francis Cooper, Engineering Education Advisor to the project, while Ms. Mardea Nyumah and Devon Mclorg represented USAID Liberia.