Professor Abena D. Oduro, Director, CSPS gives her welcome address and the message from the Centre
The Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) at the College of Humanities on 23rd June, 2016 held the official launch of the Master of Research and Public Policy programme in the University of Ghana. The Centre hosts this programme on behalf of the University of Ghana. The programme is one of eleven being run in African universities in collaboration with the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR). In attendance was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey who performed the launch. Professor Samuel Agyei- Mensah, Provost of the College of Humanities (COH) chaired the function. Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) gave the key note address. PASGR was represented by Professor Solomon Akinboye, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies of the University of Lagos. The launch was well attended by representatives of government and non- governmental agencies.
The Director of CSPS, the Director-General of NDPC, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Representative of PASGR and Provost of COH
The Chairperson, Professor Samuel Agyei- Mensah in his opening remarks expressed satisfaction on the commencement of the programme. He provided a short history of the programme. The name of the programme is an unusual one and according to the Chairperson was arrived at after considerable debate. The Chairperson spoke of happy moments as the programme developed the curriculum and sad moments when a colleague who was very instrumental in the formation of the programme passed away. He outlined the approval process and acknowledged various faculty for the immense contribution they had made to the development of the curriculum and attainment of final accreditation from the National Accreditation Board and National Council for Tertiary Education.
Prof Samuel Agyei- Mensah, Provost College of Humanities giving his introductory message as chairperson of the Launch
Following the introductory message by the Chairperson, the Director of the Centre, Professor Abena Oduro in her message presented the architecture of the M.RPP programme The M.RPP is a two-year full-time programme with an internship component and a thesis. It is run as an evening programme at the University of Ghana. Lectures are held each week-day from 5.30-8.45pm. She mentioned that it is designed to provide students with a choice of two pathways- research and policy practice. The “research” pathway is for students who are primarily interested in doing policy relevant research and who may aspire to undertake advanced scholarship, teach in universities or work in research think tanks and other types of research organisations. The “policy practice” pathway is for students primarily interested in using research as policy practitioners and who aspire to influence, inform or shape public policy, through work in national and sub-national government bodies, think tanks, advocacy organisations, media, the private sector, regional or international organisations. She mentioned that a common curriculum is being offered at all Master of Research and Public Policy programmes on the continent. The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) offers the opportunity for the sharing of faculty across partner institutions.
The Director acknowledged the contribution of past directors of the Centre and recognised the pivotal role played by the Vice Chancellor and the then Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences now the Provost of the College of Humanities in ensuring the programme began in the University of Ghana. She commended faculty within and outside CSPS for the contribution they have made made towards the smooth running of the programme since its commencement in February 2016. To end her speech, the Director requested that governmental and non-governmental organisations would consider favourably the request for internship places for students of the M.RPP programme.
In his keynote address, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, expressed delight at the decision to include the research as a necessary part of the programme and its title as opposed to just emphasising policy analysis. His address centred on the preparation of Ghana’s long term national development plan and the relevance of the M.RPP programme to the plan. Graduates of the programme, he believed, will play a key role in its implementation.
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission giving his keynote address
Dr Thompson mentioned that he sees graduates of the programme as midfielders with both social and economic knowledge who will be equipped and prepared to take up the mantle to help in the implementation of this development plan. He suggested that an elective in communication studies should be included in the curriculum since it is important that research findings are effectively communicated to others outside the research community. The Director General of the NDPC ended his address with a commitment to developing future collaboration with the Centre by utilising research findings and offering opportunities for internships.
PASGR was represented by Professor Solomon Akinboye, the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos. The University of Lagos is one of eleven partner institutions running the Masters of Research and Public Policy programme. He congratulated the University of Ghana on the commencement of the programme.
Professor Solomon Akinboye, Representative of PASGR
A representative of the M.
Some of the first batch of M.RPP students at the University of Ghana
The Vice Chancellor in his speech discussed the importance of the social sciences and the need to produce social scientists who had the relevant research and analytical skills for effective public policy formulation and implementation and rigorous analysis. The Master of Research and Public policy is designed to achieve this.
The programme was officially launched by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey.
In his concluding remarks the Chairperson suggested the Centre for Social Policy Studies should consider a possible change in its name as its scope of activities expands to embrace public policy. He commented on the need to strengthen partnerships in order to provide students the opportunity to spend some time in other universities especially in the sub-region.
