A five member team from the School of Sustainable Development, SSD, of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, (UESD), has met with Management of World Vision Ghana, an NGO for discussions on possible joint partnership in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, W.A.S.H projects among other things.
Speaking at a meeting with Management of the NGO in the latter’s conference room in Accra, the Head of Department of Water Resources and Sustainable Development, SSD, Dr. Michael Tuffour, explained that the UESD mandate resonates with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, particularly the ones that are in the areas of W.A.S.H, Food Security and Household Resilience, Health and Nutrition, just like World Vision. This was why it was seeking partnership with the NGO.
Dr. Tuffour told his host that the UESD was also seeking an alliance with World Vision in four areas: internship, data sharing and research collaborations, curriculum review and expertise transfer through teaching and exchange programmes. Under teaching and exchange programme partnership, Dr. Tuffour explained, the two institutions could occasionally have staff cross carpets from industry to academia and vice versa. This would help persons in industry share practical experiences with the students during seminars and symposia likewise Lecturers who would spend their sabbatical with industry.
Throwing more light on the proposed curriculum review partnership, Dr. Tuffour said, this would give experts of World Vision the opportunity to make inputs into the courses at UESD, to give the University a direct feedback to growing trends in industry.
On research and data sharing, Dr. Tuffour indicated that both institutions could undertake joint research projects. He said, the UESD is an institution rich in qualified and professional researchers who could serve as consultants in any project. Dr. Tuffour said, the students are required to do practical attachments and internship to gain practical experience in their various programmes of study and the NGO is one of the places the students can learn from.
He also revealed that the School of Sustainable Development has initiated the mentorship scheme which seeks to provide students with career advice and education. This involves organising conferences and symposia within the scope of study of the students, to learn from the resource persons which will serve as ‘an all-rounded educational experience uniquely designed for industry-ready graduates,’ he added.
Speaking on measures put in place to ensure that the University stands out, the Head of the UESD delegation and Dean of the School of Sustainable Development, Prof. Anthony Amoah, indicated that unlike the traditional universities which usually adopt the theoretical approach to teaching and learning, all courses in SSD are largely dominated by practical components. This is strategically designed to ensure that students are well-equipped for the job market.
He also revealed that School of Sustainable Development has initiated the mentorship scheme which seeks to provide students with career advice and education. This involves organising conferences and symposia in areas within the scope of study of students where resource persons are invited to share their experiences in their fields of endeavour with the intention to provide a platform for students to learn from them. Prof. Amoah said, the idea is to provide an all-rounded educational experience uniquely designed for industry-ready graduates.
Another member of the UESD team, Dr. Junias Adusei-Gyamfi, expatiated Dr. Tuffuor’s submission on practical attachment saying, UESD programmes have been specifically designed to include practicals in the students’ overall grading, unlike other Universities, to enforce strict participation.
The Integrated Programmes Director of World Vision, Mr. Richard Okai, expressed the organisation’s interest in the University’s proposals in all the areas mentioned and indicated that both institutions can go on to create a communication link, with Mr. Attah Arhin, an officer of the NGO representing World Vision Ghana, and Dr. Michael Tuffour representing UESD.
Mr. Okai, charged the two to establish a workable Memorandum of Understanding that would be binding on both institutions.
He also suggested programmes on development which have Christian Components. Other members of the UESD group were Dr. Theodora Akweley Asiamah and Dr. Gibrilla Abass. From the World Vision side were: Mr. Daniel Salify Governance and Landed Properties Director, Cephas Kumah: Risk and Compliance Manager and Ms. Candy Frimpong: Administrative Programmes Officer.