Prof. Ofori-Birikorang Lauds IUCDS for Promoting Quality Teaching and Research
The Ag. Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, has lauded the Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies (IUCDS) for promoting quality teaching and research by harmonising resources for staff development.
He commended the Vice-Chancellors and Rectors of the various partner institutions and members of the Conference for embracing the idea of setting up of a permanent university framework as a platform for staff development, for training the required manpower, and for exchange of students through the IUCDS.
The Ag. Pro-Vice-Chancellor was speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day conference held under the theme “Harmonising Resources for Staff Development through Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies”. The Conference took place from Tuesday, 26th to Thursday, 28th January, 2021, at the School of Creative Arts Conference Room, Central Campus, UEW.
Prof. Ofori-Birikorang,expressed sincere appreciations to all those who worked hard to put in place structures and guidelines necessary for the effective running of the Conference concerning quality teaching and research in various partner institutions.
“I am, therefore, re-emphasising the importance of fostering a partnership with our sister universities both within and outside Ghana, particularly in the West African sub-region, to preserve the academic interest of students pursuing doctoral programmes, maintaining quality teaching and research in our institutions, facilitating the dissemination of research findings, promoting staff development, promoting academic standards and approving equivalents in the awards of certificates, diplomas and degrees,” he stressed.
Prof. Ofori-Birikorang, pointed out that the prevailing conditions on funding in universities today make it difficult to get sponsorship for students on PhD programmes, especially for those studying French. He, therefore, called on all the partner institutions to double their efforts so that the vision of the founding members of the Doctoral School would be realised.
“With reference to the Report submitted and the resolutions adopted by the Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies, held at the Council Chamber of the UEW, on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, and the decisions taken at the Working Session of the Conference, on September 28 and 29, 2015, I recall that UEW accepted to host the permanent Executive Secretariat responsible for the overall coordination of the Conference, and which is located at the Institute for Educational Research and Innovation Studies (IERIS),” he noted.
Prof. Ofori-Birikorang strongly advocated the setting up of Research, Innovation and Staff Development Fund (RISDF) by all partner institutions, bearing in mind the main objectives common to all. He entreated all partner institutions to allocate special funding to the Conference to implement short term projected activities.
The Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies is an academic board and partnership framework composed of sister institutions in Ghana and the West African sub-region – public and private universities and institutions, located in Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
Its primary aims are to create a system whereby students of member institutions will be able to register and pursue doctoral degree programmes in any of the institutions concerned while respecting the existing regulations in each institution; create a pool of experts for the supervision of doctoral theses/dissertations, since these measures would enhance staff development through facilitation of movement of researchers from various member institutions; and facilitate doctoral studies and promote collaborative research, thereby helping to address the acute shortage of motivated and well trained academic staff in partner institutions/universities.
