The Higher Institute of Applied Medical Sciences (HIAMS), Cameroon, has officially entered a new era in its academic journey following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Bamenda (UBa), aimed at expanding access to quality higher education and strengthening professional medical training in the country.
The historic agreement was signed on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the University of Bamenda campus in Bambili, marking a significant milestone for both institutions and opening new opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals across Cameroon.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda, Professor Theresia Nkuo Akenji, described the partnership as a strategic move that will enhance the reputation of both the state university and the private institution while making quality higher education more accessible to young Cameroonians.
According to Professor Akenji, the University of Bamenda conducted a thorough assessment of HIAMS before approving the partnership. The evaluation was carried out to ensure that the institution meets the academic and professional standards required to train students under the University’s mentorship.
“The University of Bamenda visited the school to ascertain that it meets the required standards for training students before signing the Memorandum of Understanding,” she explained.
Under the terms of the agreement, the University of Bamenda will mentor HIAMS academically, while certificates awarded to students enrolled in the programmes covered by the partnership will be issued by the University of Bamenda, thereby enhancing the value and recognition of graduates’ qualifications.
Representing HIAMS at the signing ceremony was its Director, Dr. Mrs. Gwendoline M. Toh-Boyo, PhD (WA, USA), who highlighted the institution’s remarkable growth over the years and its commitment to producing competent healthcare professionals.
Established as a professional HND and Bachelor’s Degree training institution in Applied Medical Sciences since 2005, HIAMS has built a strong reputation through community outreach programmes and industry-oriented training. The institution operates under the authorizations MINESUP/08/00097 and MINESUP/08/0112 granted on May 8, 2008.
Dr. Toh-Boyo revealed that the partnership with the University of Bamenda will enable HIAMS to introduce innovative Master’s Degree programmes in Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Ultrasonography (Echography), while also expanding Bachelor’s Degree Top-Up programmes for both students and working professionals.
Over the last two decades, HIAMS has developed and delivered world-class curricula with support from internationally renowned institutions, including grants from the British Council, faculty collaborations with the University of East Anglia and the University of Buea, as well as support from the University of Texas Medical Branch.
One of the institution’s most outstanding achievements is its reported 100 percent graduate employment rate, a feat Dr. Toh-Boyo attributes to HIAMS’ Total Quality Management System, which places employers’ needs at the centre of its training philosophy.
The institution’s student-centred approach combines reflective learning, extensive clinical exposure through a 50:50 theory-to-practice training model, and regular community service activities designed to nurture leadership, passion, and entrepreneurial skills among students.
HIAMS is equally embracing the future of education through its modern, AI-driven e-learning platform, which offers free HND and medical entrance examination revision materials, mental health support training, and online academic programmes.
The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding is expected to significantly strengthen medical and health sciences education in Cameroon by combining the academic excellence and mentorship capacity of the University of Bamenda with HIAMS’ practical and innovative training model.
For students seeking internationally competitive and professionally relevant medical education, the partnership signals a promising future—one that bridges academic excellence, employability, and accessibility.
As Cameroon continues to expand opportunities in higher education, the collaboration between HIAMS and the University of Bamenda stands as a proof to what strategic partnerships can achieve in transforming the nation’s healthcare and educational landscape.
