Our Story

Throughout its history the Episcopal Church of South Sudan has been at the forefront of education and peacebuilding, running primary and secondary schools across the country over many decades and playing an active part in the nation’s peacebuilding efforts, initially in the conflict between north and south, and now in the internal tribal conflicts that continue to plague the nation. Today the Episcopal Church runs 288 primary schools, 12 secondary schools and 12 colleges.

The Episcopal Church of South Sudan has had a vision to establish an Episcopal University for many decades. In 2011 A feasibility study commissioned by Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul demonstrated the need and desire for a multicampus university with a strong Christian foundation that builds on the Church’s existing theological and other further education colleges located in different parts of the country. The Episcopal University of South Sudan is the embodiment of this vision as a Christian foundation private university in South Sudan.

The church has always understood education as a vital means for developing people who contribute to the flourishing of a peaceful and prosperous society and the building up of the God’s people. Underlying the existence of the university is the belief that everyone has a God-given vocation – as lawyers, pastors, teachers, parents, medical professionals, social workers, community workers, peacebuilders, engineers or artists. Over time, the Episcopal University seeks to expand the range of subjects it offers, so that through its degree programmes it will produce holistically educated servant leaders in a variety of vocations for South Sudan and beyond.

The university currently consists of the Bishop Gwynne School of Theology (formerly Bishop Gwynne College) and the School of Law in Juba. Existing colleges in Kajo Keji, Maridi, Renk and Wau are affiliated with the university and will also offer accredited programmes in the near future and become campuses of TEU.  In total, these colleges employ approximately 40 full-time staff and serve over 700 students. Other colleges – for example in Yei, Mundri, Lui, Lainya – are also likely to join in due course as their programmes develop and reach appropriate standards.

The university is located on a small campus in the centre of Juba, the country’s capital. This houses the university’s administrative offices, the Bishop Gwynne School of Theology, and the School of Law. A large (12 km²) site has been acquired 50 miles west of Juba, near Rokon. This will form the central hub of the university, housing the central administration as well as other faculties.