Port-au-Prince, August 11, 2025 — The State University of Haiti (UEH) is moving forward with its plan to decentralize higher education through a major initiative: the creation of a campus in the Grand Sud (Greater South).
Last week, an official delegation led by Rector Professor Dieuseul Prédelus visited four departments of the country on an exploratory mission to assess the conditions for hosting this future university facility.
Alongside the Rector, the delegation included his Chief of Staff, Professor Bildadson Cadelus; Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Professor Predner Duvivier; Coordinator for Provincial Entities, Professor Milien Midas; and former Dean of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics, Professor Renauld Govain. Their itinerary covered the South-East, South, Nippes, and Grand’Anse departments, according to a statement from UEH’s communications office.
According to the Rectorate’s statement, the main objective of the mission was to “identify a suitable site for the establishment of a UEH campus in the Grand Sud.” The institution stated that the project “aims to bring university-level education closer to young people in the region,” who are often forced to travel to the capital to pursue their studies.
For the Rectorate, this initiative goes beyond simply expanding academic offerings. “More than just an educational institution, this future campus is envisioned as a strategic lever for local socio-economic development,” the statement reads. UEH hopes the new facility will train “competent and responsible youth” capable of fostering innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to sustainable progress in the region.
The Greater South, severely affected by natural disasters in recent years — including the 2021 earthquake and recurring cyclonic events — continues to face major challenges in accessing higher education. For many young people, the distance and costs associated with moving to Port-au-Prince remain insurmountable barriers. UEH believes that establishing a campus in the region would help reduce these inequalities and strengthen local capacities.
During the tour, the delegation met with key civil society figures, local authorities, and representatives of community organizations. These exchanges provided valuable data on the needs, expectations, and realities of each department visited. “These meetings made it possible to better understand regional realities and guide the next steps of this initiative,” UEH noted.
Although the final site has not yet been chosen, several areas have been identified as having strong potential, both in terms of accessibility and their ability to host the infrastructure required for a modern campus.
The creation of this campus is part of UEH’s policy to strengthen its presence across the national territory. Until now, most of the institution’s faculties and schools have been concentrated in Port-au-Prince, forcing students from the provinces to undertake long commutes or give up their studies altogether. The Rectorate has described the initiative as “a major step forward” and “a promise for the future of the youth of the Grand Sud.”
By offering quality training locally, UEH hopes not only to improve access to higher education but also to encourage the retention of skills in the region. The idea is that a generation educated locally will be more inclined to invest their expertise in the Grand Sud’s economic and social development.
No official date has yet been announced for the start of construction. However, the Rectorate emphasized that the August 2025 mission marks a key stage in bringing the project to fruition. The next steps will depend on technical assessments, further consultations, and the mobilization of the necessary financial resources.
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