SCMS Faculty Retreat Focuses on Academic Excellence

Opening the retreat, Prof. Albert Agbesi Wornyo, Dean of SCMS, commended faculty members for their commitment, sacrifice and resilience in steering the School’s academic and administrative responsibilities, often under intense pressure and without expectations of personal reward.

Prof. Wornyo particularly lauded Heads of Department, Examination Officers and faculty who played critical roles in the conduct of end-of-semester examinations and the timely publication of results, describing their collective efforts as vital to the growth and credibility of the School.  

The Dean of SCMS explained that the faculty retreat was purposefully organised to provide a structured platform for introspection, professional engagement and strategic dialogue on how the School could consolidate its gains while responding effectively to emerging trends in communication education.

“The faculty retreat is to offer us the opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments, share ideas on best practices and explore the way forward to enhance our programmes and the experiences of our students,” he stated, expressing confidence that the three-day engagement would generate practical ideas to reposition the School academically and administratively.  

The retreat featured thought-provoking presentations and discussions on mentoring emerging scholars and students as part of a deliberate succession planning agenda with an emphasis on grooming young academics for leadership, research excellence and sustained institutional relevance.

Participants also examined strategies for rebranding the School to reflect contemporary realities in communication and media studies while showcasing the research dynamics of faculty members as a means of strengthening visibility, credibility and academic influence within and beyond the University.

Another key focus of the retreat was the redesign of course content to align with evolving local and global perspectives in the field of communication studies. Faculty members interrogated existing curricula and explored innovative approaches to ensure that programmes remain relevant, competitive and responsive to industry demands, digital transformations and societal needs.

Issues relating to the mounting of courses and the effective use of the University’s Virtual Classroom (VClass) platform were also extensively discussed with emphasis on improving teaching delivery, student engagement and assessment practices in blended and technology-driven learning environments.

The retreat further underscored the importance of promoting collaborative research and joint publishing among faculty members within the School and across departments as a strategic pathway to increasing research output, interdisciplinary scholarship and international visibility.

In line with this objective, participants explored opportunities for international collaboration and academic support through research partnerships, exchange programmes and joint projects with institutions abroad to enhance the School’s global footprint and attract funding and scholarly recognition.

Deliberations also focused on retooling the Centre for Communication Education Research and Professional Development (CCERPD) to enhance its visibility, functionality and impact, particularly in driving community-focused research, professional training and stakeholder engagement.

Additionally, faculty members examined the structure of the School’s PhD programme and discussed pragmatic strategies to increase admissions and enrolments at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, while maintaining academic rigour and quality assurance.

Throughout the retreat, participants actively engaged in conversations, presentations and reflective sessions that fostered shared ownership of the School’s vision and collective responsibility for its future.

The three-day faculty retreat forms part of SCMS’ broader agenda to continuously review its academic practices and strategically reposition itself to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving communication landscape while advancing the mission of the UEW.