Professor Dr. Isaac Ayii Ayii, VC of Ayii University

In a country where war has repeatedly disrupted education and drained professional capacity, Professor Dr. Isaac Ayii Ayii stands out as a rare example of resilience, ambition, and institution-building.

He is the founder of Ayii University, formerly the Juba Institute of Health Sciences (JIHS), an institution that has reshaped private higher education and health training in South Sudan.

Dr. Ayii’s story is not merely one of academic success; it is a reflection of South Sudan’s turbulent history and the possibility of transformation through education.

A Childhood Shaped by Conflict

Born on March 23, 1983, Prof. Ayii’s early life was marked by significant challenges, as he became a child soldier at the age of seven in 1989, joining the SPLA/M in Ethiopia under his father’s care. Isaac Ayii’s early education was fragmented across several countries, including South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Like many South Sudanese children of his generation, his schooling was interrupted by war, instability, and forced movement.

Despite these challenges, Ayii demonstrated early academic promise. He completed his O-Level education at St. Mary’s Seminary, Kocoa, earning a first grade, before proceeding to St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu, Uganda, where he completed his A-Level studies with principal passes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics (PCBM), a foundation that would later define his career in health sciences.

A Lifelong Pursuit of Education

Dr. Ayii’s academic journey is both extensive and interdisciplinary, reflecting a belief that national problems require multidimensional solutions.

He trained initially as a clinical medical professional, earning a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Public Health from Maridi Health Sciences Institute. His interest in medical training and education led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Education at Makerere University in Uganda, one of Africa’s leading institutions.

He later specialized further, obtaining a Higher Diploma in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery from Mulago Health Institute, positioning himself as both a practitioner and a trainer in medical sciences.

Recognizing the importance of policy and governance in shaping health systems, Dr. Ayii earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Juba, grounding his technical expertise within the realities of South Sudan’s political and administrative environment.

His academic journey culminated internationally with a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a PhD in Medical Education from Atlantic International University in the United States.

He has also pursued additional qualifications in entrepreneurship, business administration, and law, reinforcing his belief that education institutions must be academically sound, legally compliant, and financially sustainable.

From Vision to Institution

In 2014, Dr. Ayii founded the Juba Institute of Health Sciences (JIHS) with a modest beginning, just a handful of students and limited resources. At a time when South Sudan faced acute shortages of trained health workers, JIHS focused on producing practical, community-oriented professionals.

Over the years, the institute expanded rapidly, graduating thousands of health professionals who now serve in hospitals, clinics, and humanitarian programs across the country.

This growth laid the foundation for a bigger vision: Ayii University.

Established in 2014 as a private university in Juba, Ayii University evolved from JIHS into a multidisciplinary institution offering programs in health sciences, education, public policy, and professional studies. The university represents one of the few locally founded private universities driven by a South Sudanese academic rather than external investors.

A Scholar, Practitioner, and Policy Voice

Beyond institutional leadership, Professor Dr. Ayii Ayii is a medical educationist, policy analyst, and public commentator. He has contributed to national debates on health systems, education reform, and public policy, often emphasizing the need for local capacity building rather than dependence on external expertise.

His work reflects a rare blend of clinical practice, academic scholarship, and institutional entrepreneurship, a combination that has earned him recognition within academic and policy circles in South Sudan.

A Broader Legacy

Dr. Ayii’s journey, from displacement and fragmented schooling to founding a university, mirrors the broader struggle of South Sudan itself. His institutions stand as practical responses to the country’s chronic challenges: weak health systems, limited access to higher education, and the loss of skilled professionals.

More than buildings or degrees, his legacy lies in human capital, the nurses, clinicians, educators, and professionals trained locally to serve their communities.

In a nation still searching for stability, Professor Dr. Isaac Ayii Ayii represents a quiet but powerful argument: that education remains South Sudan’s most sustainable path forward, and that transformation is possible when vision is matched with perseverance.