KNUST, Legon get new vice-chancellors
Two vice chancellors (VCs) for the University of Ghana (UG), Legon and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been inducted into office with pledges to reform their respective institutions.
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The new VC for KNUST, Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso, in his address at his investiture, conducted by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is also the Chancellor of the University, announced a review of the requirement for girls opting for programmes in the sciences, Mathematics, and technology for the 2016/2017 academic year.
For the 12th VC of the UG, Professor Ebenezer Owusu Oduro, his pledge was to consolidate and build on the university’s progress and achievements in repositioning it as a world class research and training institution.
STEM
The new policy of the VC of KNUST is to correct the low female patronage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
Prof. Obiri-Danso said a special ‘STEM for Girls Unit’ will be set up under his office to design and implement a special mentorship programme at the pre-tertiary levels nationwide to shore up girls’ interests in STEM education and careers.
The unit, he said, would be headed by a female professor who would liaise with the relevant state departments and agencies in the ministries of Education, Gender and Social Protection and Environment Science and Technology, as well as various national and international agencies to work to improve on the underrepresentation of women in STEM education and careers.
Workers welfare
The vice chancellor, as part of his vision, promised quarterly meetings with industry players to help the university to fashion specific programmes to meet industry demands and to build on an already existing relationship with key industries.
Prof. Obiri-Danso said he would collaborate with the various unions to tackle the issues of promotion and motivation to enable staff to give of their best.
Asantehene
The Asantehene urged the vice-chancellor not to use his position to settle personal scores or to avenge past wrongs, but employ the collegiate system where everybody would be brought on board.
He challenged him to be selfless in dealing with other people and rely on his 29 years of experience in the university to build on other sources of funding for the university.
Otumfuo called on him to eschew complacency and help build a strong legacy for the university.
The immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Otoo-Ellis, admonished the new VC to have an open heart to embrace all and make God the centre of his reign.
UG would engage
Professor Oduro, the new VC of the UG, said under his leadership, the university ” would engage relevant actors in the private and public sectors to identify key areas of focus and emphasis to guide the alignment of our research and training programmes,”
That, he said, would help tailor the teaching and research in the university to the needs of industry, the public and private sectors, as well as the country’s developmental agenda in general.
Innovation hub
He said UG would establish an innovation hub as a collaborative venture between the university and private sector actors to be managed and driven largely by the private sector and deepen the relationship between academia and industry in a way that would unleash the entrepreneurial spirit in young talents and drive them to launch national and international enterprises.
“This is the minimum the University of Ghana must offer to realise the goal of making significant contributions to national development,” Professor Oduro said.
“We want Legon to become a ‘Go to university’ in Africa,” he added
New paradigm
Prof. Oduro said the University of Ghana would take the lead in fostering positive attitudinal change and character moulding.
“Specifically, my aim is that we inculcate in both students and staff, the sense of institutional leadership, where dedication to work, respect for one another, respect for processes and procedures, time management, and environmental cleanliness are upheld and jealously guarded as important core values of the university,” he promsed.
Prudent management
In the face of insufficient government subventions and the increasing financial needs of the university, he said there was the need to take a number of urgent steps, including the redoubling of efforts to diversify funding sources and also increase internally generated funds.
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He also advocated a proper management of financial resources and prudent debt utilisation and management.
Writers’ emails: daniel.kenur@graphic.com.gh and victor.kwawukume@graphic.com.gh