The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP) is part of an academic partnership between Drexel University in Philadelphia and the Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial (UNGE) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, ongoing since 1998.  Both universities began as technical schools, a legacy that is reflected in their areas of strength today.

 

Drexel University has a rich history as an engineering school that has grown into a comprehensive global research university, ranked among the top 100 in the United States.  With approximately 26,000 students, Drexel is one of America's 15 largest private universities.

 

UNGE is Equatorial guinea's premier institution of higher education.  It has experienced tremendous growth, with a new state-of-the-art campus nearing completion on the outskirts of Malabo.  UNGE's College of Environmental Science is BBPP's academic home in Equatorial Guinea.  Under the long term leadership of Jose Manuel Esara Echube, the College has become UNGE's most successful and productive academic unit.