Qing Jian International, a Chinese construction and engineering firm, has presented a cheque for GHc30,000 to support the Institutional Advancement Office (IAO) for the organization of the upcoming second Advancement Lecture Series. The gesture was part of the company’s Social Corporate Responsibility to the University. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the IAO, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, expressed gratitude to Qing Jian International for the donation. He commended the company for its professionalism in the construction sector. For his part, the Marketing Manager of Qing Jian International, Mr. Liu Xingchang, said the donation was to deepen its partnership with the University. He gave an assurance that the company would do everything it could to make the lecture series a success. Accompanying Mr. Liu Xingchang were the Deputy Managing Director (Ghana’s branch), Zhang Qiang, and the Marketing Officer, Li Chunxiao. In a related development, Prudential Bank has also presented a cheque for GHc 20,000 to support the forthcoming Lecture Series. This year’s Advancement Lecture Series is slated for Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at the New Examinations Center (NEC) at 2:00 p.m. It is on the theme: “Developing a Stronger Economics for the African Continent: the Missing Link.” The Speaker for the Lecture is the Vice- President, H.E Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia.  

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, has appealed to politicians to stop politicising educational issues and allow institutional governance structures to function effectively. Prof. Oduro stressed that when "educational system becomes extremely political rather than educational entity, students become the losers". According to him, politicians should intervene when things are not going on well in educational institutions, stressing that" but they should not interfere". He emphasised that" by politicizing our educational system, we fail as a country to tackle and adopt a national character towards addressing the real challenges facing education in our country ". Prof. Oduro said this while addressing the National Congress and Hand-Over Ceremony of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Main Auditorium. Speaking on the theme " Depoliticizing Ghana's Educational System: Towards a Policy Framework ", the Pro-Vice-Chancellor called for mental revolution that would enable stakeholders tackle educational issues devoid of political fanaticism. To achieve this, he advised politicians:" Once elections are over, let us talk about Ghana, not political parties, let us talk about Ghana- not tribal politics. Let us talk about Ghana- not religious politics. Let us talk about Ghana- not an individual driven vengeance so that every stakeholder, irrespective of his or her political orientation, is brought on board to help find lasting solution to our educational predicament." For him, the future of Ghana would be bright when politicians commit themselves to the depoliticization the educational system. By so doing, Prof. Oduro indicated that, people would become more comfortable to contribute positively to the sustenance of educational policies. He called on academic institutions to play their roles efficiently to discourage political interferences in the universities' autonomy and academic freedom, while advising faculty to be fair and objective and rise beyond partisan politics in the discharge of their duties. The Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, who spoke on the topic " Improving and Sustaining the University Teachers' Working Conditions for National Development ", said government was committed to improving the fortunes of university teachers. He said the good policies implemented by the Kuffour-led government for university teachers between 2004 and 2008 would be resurrected by the current government. He said the government would soon pass the National Research Fund into law. He encouraged university teachers to make good use of the Fund to research in the areas of science, technology and innovation to bridge the gap between academia and industry. This, according to him, would reduce the scourge of unemployment in the country. He reiterated government's position to restore the Book and Research Allowance to enable teachers to indulge in extensive research. Prof. Yankah reassured UTAG that government would not be embroiled in any move to disturb academic freedom in universities,which is enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. He told the new executives of UTAG that his doors were open for discussions on issues affecting its members and advised UTAG to chart the path of dialogue to address issues rather than resorting to industrial actions which hamper academic work in the universities. In his closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, who chaired the function, expressed gratitude to the speakers for their insightful presentations. He backed calls for enhanced working conditions for university teachers and appealed to the Minister to fulfil his promise to improve the fortunes of teachers. He commended the high enrollment level of the Free Senior High School policy and called on the government to put up infrastructure facilities to absorb the teeming students who would be offered admission into universities in 2020. Prof. Ampiah called for depoliticisation of educational issues and admitted that autonomy for public universities was farfetched, as a result of salary payment by government and also fundings to infrastructure projects in the universities. He expressed joy at the level of academic freedom thriving in tertiary institutions and urged academic staff to contribute their quota to the development of the country.  

The School of Business has awarded 173 students with various prizes for their outstanding performance during the 2016/2017 academic year. The ceremony, dubbed the School of Business Dean’s Award, was to recognise high performing students and encourage other students in the School to redouble their efforts to achieve similar feats. The award winners, from level 100-300, obtained Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3. 6 which is within the first class category in their respective programmes of study. Speaking at the event, the Dean of the School, Prof. Edward Marfo-Yiadom, congratulated the award winners and advised them to reach higher heights with the knowledge gained at school. He stated that the award of academic prizes to students was part of the School’s annual activities and announced that the School has the list of all award winners from 2008 and would write their names on a giant plaque in the School of Business Complex, which is near completion. He thanked various sponsors for the awards ceremony and appealed to other public spirited institutions to help sponsor the awards scheme. In his address as a motivational speaker for the occasion, the Financial Controller at Rendeavour Ghana, Mr. Victor Kpentey, advised the students to brand themselves well and entreated them to read widely to broaden their horizon. He urged them to build networks with people they meet in all their endeavours. “People you will meet, take them very seriously and make a conscious efforts to build network for yourself. Because from that network, you will learn, you will meet people who will be of help to you,” said Mr. Kpentey, who was adjudged the Best Accounting Student in 2005. Mr. Kpentey was however quick to add that “ networking is not only about getting help from people. You also have to be in to provide help to others. It has to be mutually beneficial.” He challenged them to be confident, hardworking, authentic, entrepreneurial, and believe in themselves. He encouraged the students to build on their strengths and strive hard to address their weaknesses. The ceremony was chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. J. B. A Afful.  

The newly-elected national executive members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have been sworn into office to run the affairs of the association for the next two years. The new executive members were sworn in by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, at the Main Auditorium. The Association has Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah as its new president. Other executive members are Dr. Eunice Fay Amissah (Vice-President), Dr. Bert Boadi-Kusi (Secretary) and Dr. Kojo Okyere (Treasurer). In his remarks, Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, said UTAG would continue to scrutinise any major government decision or policy, since successive governments and the general public sometimes question members of the relevance of their research works to the socio- economic development of the country. Dr. Mensah, however, conceded that some of their research work remained on shelves. To nip this unfortunate development in the bud, Dr Mensah assured the public that " National UTAG under my administration will work hard to create an Annual Research and Technology Fair to bring our research findings closer to industry players and Ghanaians in general." This,according to him, would be the surest way of helping to drive innovations and homegrown technology to propel national development. He said UTAG would work in partnership with all the major stakeholders in education to create a conducive research, teaching and learning environment in Ghanaian universities. Dr. Mensah mentioned review of conditions of service, rigorous contribution to national policy and discourse and, the establishment of UTAG research and Technology Fund as some of the policies his administration would vigorously pursue. He pledged to serve the interest of UTAG and called for a united front amongst members,assuring that he would consult members always in order to build solid consensus to advance the cause of the association. For his part, the immediate past president of UTAG, Dr. Harry Agbenu, thanked members for their support during his tenure and called for similar support to the new executives so that they would live up to expectation. He thanked the government for maintaining the Book and Research Allowance. Dr. Agbenu called on all stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel to resolve the impasse at the University of Education. The ceremony was graced by the Minister-in-charge of Tertiary Education, Prof Kwesi Yankah.