Barwaaqo

University

A women’s teachers college for Somaliland

Our Story

Barwaaqo University, founded in 2017, is the first and only all-female university in Somaliland. It was established to prepare the next generation of professional women in a country with 90% female unemployment. 

Barwaaqo is first and foremost a teachers college, helping young women in Somaliland prepare for careers as educators who will bring student-centered education to their communities while honoring local culture. It is estimated that fewer than 5% of teachers in Somaliland are female. Young Somali girls desperately need more positive female role models and mentors, particularly in the classroom to ensure their educations are encouraged and minds are nurtured.

A young woman with a black hijab sitting at a desk, resting her face on her hand, with books and a pencil on the desk in front of her, in a classroom or library setting.

Our Mission

Barwaaqo University’s mission is to empower Somali women to become professionals who drive development in their communities.

Our Values

Barwaaqo women positively impact and develop their country.

Our focus on “Integrity,” “Tenacity,” and “Reasoning” equips students with the characteristics they will need to become great teachers and even greater role models.

Our approach

Two smiling women sitting outside, one wearing a black hijab and floral blazer holding a colorful polka dot bag, the other wearing glasses, a yellow hijab, and a striped blazer, holding a floral pillow.

Residential campus

Barwaaqo University is a fully residential learning environment. Young women in Somaliland tend to carry immense domestic responsibilities and therefore have extra barriers when pursuing education from their homes. In a full boarding environment, Barwaaqo students are able to focus solely on their own improvement.

A woman teaching geography to a small classroom of women, with a whiteboard behind her containing drawings and instructions, and colorful map on the wall to her right.

Foundational learning

Barwaaqo students begin their academic journeys focusing on foundational skills like English, math, computers, and reasoning. Students can advance through the foundational classes at their own pace before starting their teacher training. All courses are instructed in English.

A young woman with braces and a hijab holding a diploma from Barwaqo University, smiling outdoors with a building and trees in the background.

Career readiness

Barwaaqo’s Professional Practice Internship (PPI) is a three-tiered program offering professional experience and skills before students graduate with their degrees. At each phase, students gain increasing responsibility and exposure to real-world work environments including at partner organizations. Our students emerge confident and prepared to navigate the professional workplaces.

Group of five women wearing hijabs and colorful dresses standing in front of a doorway, smiling at the camera.

Character development

Each student is paired with a faculty advisor, who is tasked with getting to know the student on a personal level and provides 1:1 coaching to support each students’ ethical leadership development. Barwaaqo character workshops provide opportunities to discuss strategies for self-improvement, self-regulation, and holding oneself accountable for their actions.

Group of women and children in colorful traditional clothing smiling and got in conversation outdoors in a desert landscape.

Community service

Barwaaqo University runs a free primary school for the village in which it is located, Baliga Cas. Children from the village walk to the university campus in the afternoon to attend primary school run by Barwaaqo faculty and taught by Barwaaqo students who are teachers-in-training. In 2024, a student from this free primary school program became the first person from Baliga Cas to earn a spot at the prestigious Abaarso School.

Our impact

Purple speech bubble with large black text stating "90%" and smaller black text underneath.
Green speech bubble with a black outline displaying '27%' in large black font, with smaller text below about students and peers.
A graphic showing that 67% of Barwaqo students are first-generation university students.
A graphic showing that 90% of Kaabe Schools teachers are Barwaaqo University alumni.

Prospective Students

All students who have taken the high school national examination are eligible to apply. Please watch our social media pages to see when the most up to date application is released. We accept new students to begin in August and January each year. Please not that this is much earlier than many other universities, and that we do not accept students to begin in late September or October.

For other questions or inquiries, please contact info@barwaaqouniversity.org.

School Leadership

A woman with glasses, wearing a dark covering on her hair, smiling at the camera outdoors near stairs with a sunset in the background.

DEBRA BOOS
President

A smiling man with short hair and a beard, wearing a floral button-up shirt, standing outdoors during sunset with trees in the background.

ABDIRASHIID MUHUMUD HASSAN
Vice President
(Abaarso School Alumni ‘15)

Support our mission today.

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