School of Creative Arts Embarks on Academic Retreat
The Departments of Art Education, Graphic Design, and Textiles and Fashion Education under the School of Creative of Arts, University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has held a three-day retreat at the Busua Beach Resort in the Western Region.
The retreat offered the opportunity for the three Departments to fine-tune the Doctor of Philosophy in Art Education programme, review existing programmes for re-accreditation, proposed Design and Digital Media Unit, hold workshop on thesis writing and supervision for faculty members.
The retreat was opened by the Vice-Dean of the School of Creative Arts, Prof. Samuel Manasseh Yirenkyi. He thanked Management on behalf of the Dean of the School of Creative Arts, Prof. Patrique deGraft-Yankson for granting the permission for the three Departments to undertake the retreat. He tasked the senior members and Staff to make good use of the period.
In all the speeches made by the three Heads of Department namely Dr. Emmanuel Kodwo Amissah (Art Education), Dr. Joseph Essuman (Graphic Design) and Dr. Osuanyi Quaicoo Essel (Textiles and Fashion Education), suggested that, Management gave the opportunity for the three Departments to restructure their various programmes for accreditation and re-accreditation. They all entreated Senior Members to use the opportunity to help achieve the objectives for which the retreat was embarked on and also use the period to refresh their minds for the new academic year, 2021/2022.
The Faculty Officer, School of Creative Arts, Dr. Pearl Hammond, led a presentation on ‘Stress and Stress Management’, a much-needed piece of information for the worker caught up in today’s hectic world. The presentation centered on what really constituted stress, the types of it, and the various proven modes of stress reduction, among others. She emphasized on the need for senior members to take good care of their health and to find suitable means of reducing stress in various workplaces.
The Director, Innovation and Programme at the College of Distance and e-Learning, Prof. Ernest K. Amponsah made a presentation on “Packaging an Art Piece/Creative Work for Academic Promotion.” It was informative and much needed, for old and new lecturers alike. It considered research papers for each level of promotion, reminders on timelines and specifically packaging practical art pieces for promotions.
He stressed on the need for various community services and the absolute need for members to avail themselves for numerous services in and around the University and in the nation at large. “These services, not only unveils members’ unique abilities, they have the opportunity to impart while impacting their communities in diverse ways. These services also put members on the pedicel to be known and felt in their communities.”
Prof. Amponsah reiterated the creative works which were not recognised as publications in the University of Education, Winneba are now considered as publications for promotion. He therefore encouraged members to take advantage of the new trend and package their creative works for promotion.
The Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Art Education, Dr Ebenezer Acquah also made a presentation on preparation of Course Outline. He took senior members through the rudiments of preparing a course outline. He emphasised that it is important that members add their publications to the reading lists of their courses.
Dr. Osuanyi Quaicoo Essel also made a presentation on the topic “Beyond the Stigma: The Rise of Rasta hair culture in Ghana”. The presentation was an interesting, educative but controversial exposition which kept the entire members on their toes throughout.
In his closing speech the Vice-Dean, Prof. Yirenkyi talked about the Departments’ continual synergy between themselves. He urged staff present to continue working hard to help uplift the image of the Departments the School and the University at large. He further encouraged the lecturers who are yet to apply for promotion to endeavour to focus on teaching, conducting research and also offer community service to the University and the Effutu community.
