The University of Buea was born in 1993 following wide-ranging university reforms in Cameroon. Conceived in the English-speaking tradition, the University of Buea seeks to foster the essence of that system, while situating itself within the larger bilingual and multicultural context of Cameroon. It is located in the historic town of Buea, former capital of German Kamerun, former capital of the federated State of West Cameroon and now the provincial capital of the South West Region of Cameroon. Although the University draws its students mainly from the English-speaking part of Cameroon, it also serves the other provinces of the country. The student population is over 12,000, including over fifty who are physically and visually disabled. Adequate welfare provision for this later category of students remains both a challenge and a priority for the university administration. The University of Buea is made up of five faculties (Arts; Education; Health Sciences; Science; and Social and Management Sciences) and one professional school, the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI).