At Fourah Bay College, we offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students with the skills needed for success in their chosen fields. Our continuous General Civil Engineering training leads to a Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.) degree, with opportunities for further study culminating in a Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) degree.
Our commitment to community development is reflected in our Water and Sanitation program, which evaluates the role of NGOs in establishing essential water and sanitation facilities for rural populations in Sierra Leone. This initiative is crucial for improving public health and ensuring sustainable access to clean water.
Additionally, we are excited to introduce a Theater Arts Program, spearheaded by our English Department. This program aims to cultivate creativity and artistic expression among students while planning for future advancements in the arts within our community.
Join us at Fourah Bay College as we strive to provide an enriching educational experience that not only focuses on academic excellence but also emphasizes community engagement and cultural development.
Why Storytelling Belongs at the Centre of Every Programme
Whether a student is designing a culvert, surveying a village water point or rehearsing a scene, the work only matters once other people understand it. That is why storytelling sits naturally in the middle of what a college produces. A civil engineering design is, in practice, a story about a problem, the people affected by it and the choices made to solve it. A clear narrative helps community leaders, funders and local councils see why one approach was chosen over another.
Engineering projects that people can follow
Final-year engineering students often present technical reports, drawings and calculations. These become far more persuasive when they open with the situation on the ground: a road that floods every rainy season, or a school without a reliable latrine. Explaining the context in plain language, then showing the evidence, is a skill that employers and partner organisations value as much as technical accuracy.
Water and sanitation research told from the community up
Studying how NGOs set up water and sanitation facilities in rural Sierra Leone involves listening as much as measuring. Interviews, field notes and observations from households give research its human shape. Students learn to record these accounts carefully and respectfully, so that findings reflect what residents actually experience rather than only what project reports claim.
Theatre as a shared language
Theatre arts connect directly to this approach. Drama has long been used across West Africa to share public health messages, explore social issues and preserve oral traditions. Students in performance learn to shape a message for a real audience, a skill that transfers well to presentations, community workshops and campaigns.
Some practical habits students can build across any discipline:
- Begin every report or talk with the people and problem involved.
- Use one clear example before presenting general data.
- Test explanations on someone outside your field.
- Keep notes from fieldwork that capture voices, not just numbers.
To see how these ideas fit within specific courses, explore our programmes or read more about ongoing research at the college.
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