Professor Seidu Al-Hassan with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at UDS
Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, has been inducted into office as the new Vice Chancellor of the University for the Development Studies (UDS) in the Northern region.
Professor Seidu Al-Hassan was sworn into office as the 5th Vice-Chancellor at a ceremony that took place at the Dungu campus of UDS.
UDS since its establishment has had Vice Chancellors including Prof. Raymond B. Bening, 1993–2002, Professor J. B. K Kaburise, 2002-2207, Professor Haruna Yakubu, 2010– 2015 and Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye. 2015-2022.
Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan at the ceremony indicated that his vision is to provide effective leadership and n environment that will further develop the University into a practically-oriented institution that is internationally recognised for academic excellence and community services.
“Through my leadership, the university would witness significant advancement in research, teaching and learning, human resource, student services and relationship. community services, infrastructure, ICT, IGF and partnership.”
He also assured that he will foster collegiality characterized by exemplary leadership, inclusiveness, effective communication, and total quality management system.
Prof. Al-Hassan assured that the Governing Council of UDS will be equipped with quality and up-to date information on major governance issues for effective advice and decision making adding that he will be tactical and proactive, responding to problems through effective action planning and wise consultations.
“Feedback, both positive and negative, will be elicited. As we anticipate feedback from the university community and beyond, the authors of anonymous letters are also welcome to feed in. However, they should know that there are better ways of doing so. Thus, the importance of dialoguing and face-to face meetings cannot be underscored. There would be improvement in document control and timely processing of staff promotion processes. Action on internal memos on staff related issues would be faster and efficient. Skill development of Deans/Directors, HoDs and Administrative staff in key areas such as supervision, leadership, management, communication, ete would be strengthened. I will effectively manage the statutory boards and committees while ensuring peaceful and healthy Industrial and Public Relations.”
Vice President , Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who graced the ceremony urged the University staff to rally behind the new Vice Chancellor and the Governing Council to deliver on the mandate of the University.
He charged the University and the new leadership to realign its programmes and research activities with the Government’s priority agenda for creating a critical mass of impactful human capital.
He however lamented about the increasing rate of universities undertake programmes which are not accredited.
“ The recent revelation by the Auditor-General that some of our leading universities were running unaccredited programmes or programmes which had expired. As a country we must have zero tolerance for such developments and that is why I applaud efforts by the Ghana Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Education to ensure that there’s strict upheld to the regulatory requirement of the regulatory education body Act 2020 and I charge all Vice Chancellor’s to do their duty in that respect.”
The Vice President suggested to the new Vice Chancellor of UDS to take inventory of the programmes of the University and ensure that they are all accredited before enrolling students.
Dr. Bawumia encouraged UDS to rollout programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math(STEM) and assured of governments commitment to continue to invest in the educational sector despite the current economy challenges.
“ For the last 6 years almost every public universities have benefited from governments derive to increase access to tertiary education through infrastructural development although the return may take a while to fully manifest we have no doubt that the investment in our educational systems are invest in the future of this country.”
FROM Eric Kombat, Dungu