Puntland State University (PSU) is a leading institution of higher learning centrally situated in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland State of Somalia. The institution was founded in 1999 as Garowe School of Management and named Puntland Community College in 2001 before transforming into Puntland State University in 2004 through a presidential decree No. 156 of November 2003. The presidential decree No. 60/2014 recognizes PSU as a state university and has since expanded rapidly to its present status as a leading institution for the provision of higher education in Somalia.
PSU serves as the preferred centre for training Puntland State Government workers including members of parliament and Judiciary with the support, collaboration and partnership with local and international development agencies, including UNDP, World Bank, European Commission, Diakonia-Sweden, the Somalia and Diaspora and the government of Puntland.
In 2004, with the support of UNDP, United States International University (USIU)-Nairobi, Kenya was contracted to design a higher education curriculum for four years bachelor degree programmes and formulate the institution’s 2004-2009 strategic plan. The strategic plan endeavored to establish a fully-fledged university offering two years associate degrees and four years bachelor degree programmes. With these developments, PCC was renamed Puntland State University.
PSU’s prime objective is to be able to contribute to the socioeconomic development in Somalia through the provision and dissemination of relevant educational programmes. The university realizes the need for relevant education and training programmes that meet the developmental aspirations of the community and consistently works towards availing them. PSU was top ranked university in Somalia in 2013 and 2014.