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The historic Garowe I & II Consultative Conferences held at Puntland State University in December, 15-17/02/2012 and February 23-26/12/2011 respectively. The meetings brought together the signatories of the transition roadmap, government leaders, international community representatives and members of the civil society. Among the signatories present were: H.E. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Transitional Federal Government, Hon. Sharif Sheikh Hassan, the Speaker of Transitional Federal Parliament, H.E. Prof. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Prime Minister of TFG, H.E. Dr. Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed Mohamud Farole, President Puntland State of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Aalin, President of Galmudug, Khalif Abdulkadir Moalim, representatives of Ahlu Sunna wal Jamma’a. Some of the factors why Puntland Government chose to conduct the conference at Puntland State University’s campus include the vast space, its strategic location and the availability of enough meeting halls and technical materials with advanced technology. All the above factors were important to the success of the conference. To start with, the vast space would be able to hold the big number of people attending the conference The participants and Somali leaders appreciated the tireless efforts and honest assistance and support provided by the university staff in serving and hosting the fruitful meetings, which were named Garowe I & II Principles. President of TFG H. E Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Speaker of TFG Parliament H. E. Sharif Hassan Sh. Adam,  the Prime Minister of TFG H.E. Prof. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, and President of Puntland government of Somalia H.E. Dr. Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed Mohamud Farole gave special thanks to Puntland State University’s Staff and the students for their contribution towards the hosting of the important conferences. PSU staffs, especially the management staff showed a tireless work in making sure that both Garowe 1 and Garowe 11 consultative conference ends successfully. Much appreciation goes to PSU president who has been optimistic about both conferences and has been always in the forefront in making PSU a world class University. The successive Garowe 1 & II conferences ended successfully by reaching a political agreement on ending the transition roadmap and laying the foundation for a new constitutional order.

Thursday was a happy day for many, especially PSU grandaunts and PSU family as a whole. It was around 8:00 am in the morning when PSU graduation ceremony for Batch II and III kicked off. The ceremony started with happiness as it was witnessed from the smiling and lovely faces of many grandaunts and parents who were attending the ceremony. The master of ceremony (mc) called for a sheikh to open the ceremony with word of prayer and the sheikh in turn took the floor and recited suratul-Fatiha hence opened the ceremony. There after, PSU president Mohamud Sheikh Hamid was invited to address the crowd including the grandaunts. The president began his speech with a warm greeting to the crowd and congratulation for the graduates. The presidents mentioned something about the historical evolution of Puntlad State University and the challenges it faced since it foundation. He stressed one thing, and said “many people approached me and told me not to integrate the college into university, fearing that the initiative may fail”. To mention but few, the president also informed the attendants about the relationship that the university created with many international educational institutions such as Kampala International University, African Virtual University, Kenyatta University and U.S International University and among others. The President of PSU also highlighted that, there are some students that graduated from PSU in the last graduation ceremony and happened to secure postgraduate scholarship from Kampala International University through Somali RAN umbrella which manages a scholarship fund that is given to a number of universities every year. The president concluded his speech with many thanks to all invited that showed up for the wonderful gradation ceremony and best wishes to the grandaunts for their future endeavors. After the long and moving speech by PSU Presidents, some other renowned people in Puntland were invited to address the participants and among them were, Assistant minister of education, Assistant Minister of Women, Development and Family, State Minister for Good Governance Garowe Golis Telecommunication Director and nation-Link managing Director A very wonderful drama on the importance of education and the quality education at Puntland State University was presented and made many people especially the grandaunts to enjoy and appreciate it. The students who graduated in this second graduation ceremony were 63 in number; Thirty three (33) of these students were graduating with bachelors of Public Public administration while the remaining thirty students (30) graduated with bachelors of Business Administrations. At long last, the students were awarded with their certificates by the Chief Guest of the ceremony, Ministry of labor, youth and Sports. The students who passed with excellent grades were awarded some presents by Golis and Nation link telecommunication companies. The awards were composed of mobile handsets, Sim cards and among others. It was a round 12:30pm when the ceremony was concluded and adjourned.

On the 10th of November 2011, Puntland State University (PSU) joined the rest of the Association of African Universities in celebrating the African University Day. The event was held at the university main university Conference Hall in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland State of Somalia. The theme of the ceremony was Harmonization of Curricula and Qualifications in Higher Education in Africa: Challenges and prospects. The participants included staff from the international agencies based in Garowe, Government ministries led by the Ministry of Education, Somali intellectuals and community leaders. In his opening remarks to mark the occasion, the PSU President, Mohamud Hamud Mohamed, highlighted the importance of the AAU as a representative forum for articulating African higher education issues in Africa and the world: “member institutions shared a common goal geared towards continuous enhancement of educational standards and research activities for human development in Africa”. The president mentioned that the brain-drain was one of the greatest challenges which African people were facing. He emphasized the need to make African universities more independent from the donation of external agencies. The president also noted that some Somali universities had formed an umbrella known as SOMALIREN which is a full member of the UNBUTUNET Alliance. During the discussions on the 2011 African University Commemoration theme, many eminent persons contributed their views in the ceremony. One of those who raised some important issues was Prof. Mohamed Said Samatar, who is a senior economist, former professor of Somali National University and member of teaching and consultant staff of PSU.  He pointed out the main challenges which African Universities are facing. He said, ‘’the constraints of African Universities are shortage of resources: textbooks and well established research centers.” He further mentioned in his speech the need for relevant curriculum which can address the needs of the African Societies. He also appreciated the progress made by PSU although it was a newly established institution where everything was started from the scratch. – Mr. Mohamed Hassan Barre, Director Puntland Electoral Commission, appreciated the establishment of PSU. “I really impress the sustainability of PSU” said the director. He encouraged that the establishment of research centre which could take part the development process and restoration of peace and stability in the country.  – Director of the  Higher Education Commission of Puntland, Mr. Abdullahi Ali Jamja congratulated PSU for being member of AAU. He pledged that the commission would present the drafted policy for the higher education institution of Puntland which could give the institutions clear guidelines. “The commission will make advocacy for the institutions and provide capacity building programs” said the director. . Finally, the president of the university closed the ceremony, sending best wishes to the all members of the AAU.