a museum for photographic records, paintings, memorabilia, and artefacts. Institute of Rural Development and Environmental Studies The significance of this centre emerges from the fact that approximately two thirds of the population live in a rural or semi-rural setting. Their livelihood is under threat due to environmental degradation and climate changes. The institute:: carries out research into the causes of environmental degradation, monitors environmental degradation and the effects of such degradation on the lives of the pastoral community, raises national and international awareness of the environmental problems facing the rural population, carries out a national survey of the flora and the fauna stock, builds and maintains a data bank on rural ecosystems, publishes and promote research results, promotes good range and forestry management, provides training on rural development issues, links up with similar institutions worldwide. Organisation The university has a charter and statutes that define its organisational structure, policies and procedures. At the top of its organisational pyramid is Togdheer Development Committee (TDC) which governs the university on behalf of the people of the Togdheer. The TDC elects a Board of trustees, which is the primary decision-making body of the university. The Board of trustees consists of 15 prominent members of the community, including businessmen, professionals, ex-officials and serving officials. The Board nominates, in turn, an executive committee, which consists of a chairman, a vice-chairman, a treasurer and a secretary. The executive committee is represented by: Mohamud Adan Dheri (former governor) Chairman Farah Yusuf Hadhigele (Businessman) Vice Chairman Mohamed Hussien Adan (former mayor) Treasurer Dr. Issa Nur Liban (veterinary doctor) Secretary The Board appoints a president who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the university and for carrying out decisions. Working with the president is the University Council, who is responsible for academic matters in relation to teaching, research and discipline. The university council consists of the deans of the colleges, the president, the vice president for admission and student affairs, the vice president for academic affairs and the vice president for administration and finance. There are college and department councils: each college is headed by a dean and each department is headed by the head of department. The Deans are responsible for their respective colleges and are accountable to the President. In addition the university has a Research and Enterprise unit, charged with the coordination of research carried out by the university's own colleges and institutes and by