Mozambique

Iris University

In 2018, Living Oaks partnered Dr Heidi Baker to build an oceanfront university in Pemba, Mozambique. This initiative is very close to our founders’ hearts. It was birthed from a deep conviction that access to education is one of the best ways to help communities in poverty. In Mozambique, less than 1% of the adult population has a university degree. The Iris university aims to serve not just the people of Mozambique, but students from across Africa.

The core curriculum of the university consists of majors in Business and Entrepreneurship, Public Administration and Theology. The university intends to roll out more majors in phases to become a full-fledged institution of higher learning.

Work on the 25-hectare lot is in progress. To celebrate local culture, Taslim drew inspiration from the geometric shapes common in the traditional fabric capulana. The central pedestrian spine is laid out in a geometric shape.  The design of the capulana is also projected onto the façade of the buildings to enhance the visual effect.

Due to the pandemic, and terrorism in the region, the university has been temporarily converted into a refugee centre to meet urgent needs within the community.