University of Tokapa

The University of Tokapa (abbreviated UT, Whare Wananga o te Tokapa in Oan) is a public residential research university in Tokapa, the Oan Isles. It was founded in the late 19th century by Emperor Rangatike to help the Oan Isles improve technologically, making it the oldest Western-style university in the Oan Isles. However, it traces its history to communities of scholars from Tokapa who have conducted research and teaching for hundreds of years. It is among the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in Aurora and the most prestigious in the country.

History

The Morsto-Oan War displayed the technological and organizational weaknesses of the military of the Oan Isles. The country was defeated in that war, losing territory, population, economic potential, cultural heritage and national pride. To restore the nation and enable it to stand up for itself in a world increasingly dominated by great powers, Emperor of Polynesia Rangatike ordered the establishment of a modern university model led after the Royal Bursil University in Sani Bursil, Great Morstaybishlia. Scholarly communities which had conducted research and teaching in Tokapa for centuries were amalgamated and formalized under new laws and the state provided public buildings to help them carry out their work.

The University’s initial focus was to prepare the Oan Isles for future wars with large Auroran powers. It started classes in biology, medicine, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, politics, history, economics, international relations, law and Staynish. This included appointing foreigners such as Prof Edward Smith, a Staynish physicist and mathematician as its first President. Prof Smith significantly expanded the university and shaped its structure and purpose. Nevertheless, his progressive ideals were often at odds with the government, which despised the independence he championed for the university.

The University of Tokapa was instrumental in helping the Oan Isles prepare for the Great War. Its scholars and students discovered new processes for making explosives from and finding sources of nitroglycerin and potash. The university was also a hotbed of political debate because it invigorated and organized the intellectual class. The human and economic cost of the Great War and the undemocratic institutions which perpetuated that war, galvanized members of the Faculty and student body to resist and protest the state. Their contributions paved the way for democratization in the Oan Isles.

Organization

Governance

The University is constituted in terms of the Statute of the University of Tokapa issued in terms of the Tertiary Education Law. The university is a public non-profit organization whose highest authority is the Governing Council. The Governing Council consists of representatives of students, faculty, staff, the community and state and is accountable to Minister of Education and in turn the government for the work of the university. Nevertheless, the university has the independence to conduct its work without the interference of the state. The Governing Council in turn appoints the President who is the executive head of the university. The President controls and directs the daily running of the university and proposes policies for adoption by the Governing Council.

The Student Council is the head of the Students Union. It represents their interests and it must be consulted by the President and the Governing Council before matters which will affect the student body are adopted. Using funds levied from student membership fees, the Student Council administers programs to provide for the welfare of the student body. Former students comprise the Alumni Association which, despite not having formal powers, helps to cement the university’s relationship with former students and which has symbolic powers to pass non-binding recommendations for the university

Academic divisions

The University consists of Schools which administer academic programs and research activities under an academic domain as follows:

Table of Constituent Schools

School	Principal	Academic staff	Students
School of Health Sciences	Prof Rama Toangakau	750	3520
School of Commerce	Prof Ihone Ahua	600	2480
School of Humanities	Prof Lea Putea	570	1760
School of Natural Sciences	Prof Nana Uye	430	4240
School of Engineering	Prof Amana Marama	350	5000

The Schools consist of departments, research units and other entities.

Campuses

The University of Tokapa consists of three principal campuses:

• City Centre Campus is located near the central business district of Tokapa. The campus houses most departments, administrative offices and university-provided student accommodation. The campus spans an area of 95 hectares which includes the National Tokapa Particle Accelerator, the National Paleolithic Research Institute a and the National Hydrodynamic Research Centre
• Medical Campus located nearly a kilometer (half a mile) from the City Centre Campus houses the School of Health Sciences including offices, laboratories, auditoriums, student accommodation and the Tokapa Academic Hospital. The Hospital has 500 beds and provides tertiary Healthcare and medical research especially in areas such as tropical diseases, neuroscience and cardiovascular disease.
• Oceanographic Research Station on the Sand Dune Islands is entirely devoted to research and is a collaborative project with the Department of Marine Affairs to study marine biology, oceanographic geography and geology etc.

Academics

Reputation

The University of Tokapa is consistently ranked as the best university in the Oan Isles by publications such as the Oan News National University Rankings. Among Auroran nations especially member states of the United Nations of the Auroran Continent it is considered a highly prestigious institute of higher learning.

Student life

Membership in the Students Union is compulsory and a fee is levied which helps the university administer all extracurricular activities excluding competitive sports. This includes the UT Choir, UT Debate Union, UT Student Newspaper etc. There are also many societies and clubs to choose from such as the Thaerist Society of St Matilda, Mauist Society of Maui, Investment Society (known as the Investsoc), the UNAC Youth Assembly Student Chapter, Model International Forum Student Chapter among many others.

All full-time students are housed in residential halls. Each Residential Halls is administered by a Warden and provides accommodation, catering, tutoring and welfare for its students. Residential halls administer their internal affairs including student discipline and infrastructure development with minimal interference from the university management. The university provides a bus system which transports students and staff within and between campuses in Tokapa. There are gymnasia, cinemas and gaming facilities and other entertainment on campus for students. Numerous festivals are celebrated such as the Annunciation of Maui which is celebrated with parade floats and parties.