Educate for national priorities and global standards.
Provide quality higher education, training, and research that respond to local realities while equipping students with knowledge, skills, ethical values, and leadership capacity.
About UNU
A resilient university with a national mandate.
Established in 1991 to expand higher education and advance learning, research, and intellectual leadership.
1991Upper Nile University established
Our story
Learning through change.
Upper Nile University was established under the Higher Education Act of Sudan and later reaffirmed under the Higher Education Act of South Sudan following independence. It was founded to expand access to higher education and serve as a centre of learning, research, and intellectual leadership.
Despite conflict and institutional disruption, UNU has continued its academic mission, adapting its operations while maintaining a commitment to peace, sustainable development, and national self-reliance.
Be recognised for excellence, impact, and nation-building.
Become a nationally and regionally recognised public university distinguished by academic excellence, impactful research, community engagement, and sustainable development.
What guides us
Our values
Academic excellence
Rigorous scholarship, quality teaching, and practical learning.
Integrity
Honesty, fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Service
Responsibility, leadership, and active community engagement.
Innovation
Creative research and forward-looking solutions to societal needs.
University leadership
Meet the people guiding UNU.
The University’s senior management and Deanship Board lead academic affairs, administration, quality, faculties, and student services.
View leadership & management
Public status
Recognised under South Sudan’s higher education framework.
UNU is a public institution operating under the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and in accordance with national higher education laws and regulations.
Recognition & partnerships
Working alongside institutions that share our purpose.
Selected affiliations; full agreements are held by the Directorate of Planning & International Cooperation.
Academic & development partners
University of JubaGulu UniversityMakerere UniversityUNICEF South SudanFAO South SudanWHO South Sudan