5-year strategic plan for UEW launched in Kumasi

A five-year strategic plan for the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW) has been launched at its campus here in Kumasi.

The plan, which is to be implemented from 2019 to 2023, highlights collaborative research, more stakeholder engagements and enhanced efforts to make a significant impact in communities in which the university operates.

It also seeks to cultivate greater collaborative research across faculties, campuses and disciplines, nationally and internationally to attract research funds.

Deputy Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who launched the plan, said the objective of universities in the country was to help the government to transform education and make it competitive in the world.

“If you do not help the government to transform education in Ghana, you have lost your focus, vision and mission. The fact is universities are no longer for private good but for the public good and the role you play is what will transform this nation,” he stated.

Quoting a recent human capital index by the World Bank, he observed that in the next 18 years, Ghana would lose 50 per cent of her human capital and potential, if education quality was not improved.

“It is the universities that should bring about the needed transformation. If you strategise and position yourself well, with the help of the government, you will be the engine of growth and the engine of transformation,” he said.

Dr Adutuwm, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) of Bosomtwi Constituency, mentioned that with the introduction of the free Senior High School programme, Ghana’s human capital would be developed.

He cautioned against the politicisation of the free Senior High School concept, adding that “we have to transform Ghana through quality education and we have the choice”.

Dr Adutuwm challenged the UEW and other universities to be the face of Ghana, to transform schools and empower the poor to support the government’s developmental efforts.

He urged the UEW to include tracer studies to enable them to know where their students were going and their contributions to the success of the society in their next strategic plan.

Rev. Fr Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, Vice Chancellor of the UEW, indicated the university would continue to evolve inclusive culture and policies, adapt existing infrastructure and services to make them accessible.

He said the university would adopt alternative funding models to ensure financial sustainability, value for money accountability and sustainability in the use of the limited resources to strongly position the university to deliver on its mandate and meet the high expectations of stakeholders.

The occasion coincided with the 23rd congregation (Second Session) of the university’s Graduate School with 48 students graduating in PhD, MPhil, MTech, MBA and MA certificates while 348 students graduated with Diploma in Education.

Chairman of the governing council of the university, Prof. Emmanuel Nicholas Abaka pleaded with the graduands to make every effort to become excellent role models to engineer the much yearned-for-development for Ghana.