The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke, has stated the University of Education, Winneba’s (UEW) intention to complete the construction of the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS) hostel sites 1 and 3 to ease accommodation pressure on students for the following academic year.
According to him, he will assure the university community and stakeholders that he will complete 11 projects by the end of his tenure on Saturday, September 30, 2023, of which the GUSSS hostel sites 1 and 3 will definitely be part.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed this today.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed this today, Friday, August 25, 2023, at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre, North Campus, Winneba, during the Second Session of the 27th Congregation of the university.
“At the last congregation, I gave an indication of our desire to complete all existing development projects. I was saying that by September, 11 projects would have been completed. If you glare at your left-hand side here, there is clear evidence that the commercial center has been completed; the hospital will be taken over in a couple of weeks; and the hostels, which were intended for students’ residential accommodation, will be in use the next academic year,” he promised.
He disclosed that the Winneba Campus could only house roughly 6% of its students at any given time, eventually forcing students to find subpar housing in the communities. He pointed out how the UEW environment is changing tremendously and how it is likely to evolve even more over the next few years. He expressed management’s commitment to ensuring that all 11 projects, including the Faculty Block at Ajumako, the Graduate School Block at North Campus, and a few distant learning centers, would be completed on schedule.
Prof. Avoke stated that, the efforts of the academics who were awarded grants in the year under review, particularly that of €798,906.00 to conduct a study titled "Building Capacity for Online Tuition in Ghana" with the goal of building capacity in higher education through the development of comprehensive digital education delivery strategies, sharing best practices, and developing new effective practices to broaden the knowledge base and enhance the long-term quality of education.
He also acknowledged the team of researchers who won a consulting contract from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) worth GH749,300.00 to design and develop communication and community engagement strategies for a community-based municipal solid waste source separation and compost project.
The Vice Chancellor advised graduands to think of their graduation as the start of their academic journey rather than the end. He urged them to continue to seek knowledge, explore new ideas, and adapt to evolving industries, adding that lifelong learning would keep them relevant and innovative.
He entreated them to follow their hearts and choose a profession that genuinely reflected their passions and ideals. He told them that doing what they love would make their journey more fulfilling and their contributions more meaningful.
Prof. Avoke beseeched graduands to embrace diversity, seek to understand different viewpoints, and foster inclusivity wherever they go. He said that would enrich their lives and make them better global citizens.
"I also advise you to develop strong relationships with your colleagues, role models, family, and instructors. Through your career, these connections may open doors, provide direction, and offer support. Be flexible, open to new experiences, and ready to change course as required. Your capacity to adapt to change will be a major success factor. Understanding the that difficulties and setbacks are a natural part of life is essential. Do not discouraged. Adversity can serve as a foundation for progress if you utilize it as an opportunity to learn from mistakes, he recommended.
