Participants at the workshop
A 2-day orientation workshop has been organized by the Academic Quality Assurance Unit (AQAU) for newly appointed Heads of Departments/Centres, Deans of Schools and Directors of Institutes. The purpose of the workshop was to equip them with skills that would enable them effectively manage their leadership roles and to appreciate the opportunities and challenges that go with such positions.
Topics covered included the Roles and responsibilities of a Head of Department; Administrative procedures and structures in the collegiate system; Academic leadership and dealing with the challenges of headship; Career and counseling services as support for students’ academic and social life; Managing students with special needs; Research administration at UG; Role of University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS) in facilitating academic work and Academic quality assurance processes at UG.
Resource persons included, The Pro-Vice Chancellor (ASA), Prof. Kwame Offei, Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, Prof. S. Sefa-Dedeh, Mrs. Jocelene Buckman, Director, Careers and Counseling Centre, Dr. Awo Asiedu, Coordinator, Office of Students Special Needs, Prof C. Mate-Kole, Mrs. Empi-Baryeh, Assistant Registrar ORID and a team from UGCS comprising Mr. Lucas Y. Chigabatia, Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), Mr. Alfred Quartey and Mr. Francis Awuye-Kpobi and the Director of AQAU.
Welcoming participants to the orientation workshop, the Director of AQAU, Professor Esther Sakyi-Dawson congratulated the new Heads of Departments, Deans and Directors on their appointment. She stressed on the need for Heads of Department to encourage their colleagues to improve their engagement with students by using innovative approaches to teaching. She also emphasized the need for all faculty to take advantage of the SAKAI Learning Management System training sessions so they can make use it as a means of delivering learning resources to students.
Prof. Esther Sakyi-Dawson, Director AQAU addressing participants
Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, Registrar, indicated that the Statutes and Administrative Procedures are meant to achieve consistency, fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness in running the Departments and all other units of the University. She therefore encouraged participants to be conversant with the UG statutes, Administrative Procedures and Structures as well as the Financial regulations, their management of human, financial and material resources of the University.
Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, Registrar delivering her presentation
Prof. Kwame Offei, Pro Vice Chancellor (ASA) discussed the Roles and responsibilities of Deans and Heads of Academic Units. He said that as leaders and managers for the Academic Units, their roles included but was not limited to Planning and financial management; Management of Academic and support Staff, Student recruitment, teaching and experiences; They were also to direct the research and Knowledge exchange agendas of their units. He stressed the importance of having strong departments if the University is to succeed in its quest of being recognized as one of the best universities in Africa and beyond.
Prof. Kwame Offei, Pro VC (ASA) making a presentation at the workshop
Other issues of interest that were discussed over the 2 day period were the six common challenges of Academic leadership and how the leader can inspire others and draw on the strength of the team in a Department. The participants were also enlightened on the opportunities available at the Careers and Counselling Center to help students enhance their skills beyond the classroom and also how to recognize and facilitate help for students with special needs, including challenges that were psychological or medical in nature.
The structure of Research Administration and ORID’s role in facilitating research in UG were also discussed. The team from UGCS addressed issues and answered questions from participants relating to the roles of University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS) in facilitating Academic work.
At the close of the 2-day orientation workshop, participants indicated a high level of satisfaction and described the programme as an insightful learning experience.
