SCA-UEW Promotes Innovation and Mentorship at Semester Assembly

Prof. Emmanuel Obed Acquah, Dean of the School, praised the resilience and creativity that have kept the school thriving. "We are not just a faculty; we are a force," he declared. He commended the school’s landmark initiatives, noting the continued success of the Creative Arts Talk platform, the progress towards establishing a dedicated faculty library and the growth of the faculty colloquium series in encouraging academic engagement and collaboration.

Prof. Acquah emphasised the importance of enhancing internal branding, research proposal development and student engagement through dynamic, cross-disciplinary activities such as theatre productions, art exhibitions, concerts and fashion shows. A central theme was a strong push for income generation, with a bold vision to turn creativity into economic opportunities.

“The time has come for each department to turn plans into action. We are launching a binding obligation to embed income-generation strategies into every department's operations,” he stressed. He proposed utilising student projects, studio rentals and professional partnerships to convert creative assets into revenue streams without compromising the school’s academic integrity.

Regarding mentorship and graduate supervision, Prof. Acquah urged senior faculty to take mentorship seriously and encouraged junior colleagues to seek guidance: “Let someone cross-examine your dossier before it gets to the Promotions Board; this saves time and spares everyone avoidable delays.”

Prof. Patrique deGraft Yankson, who chaired the meeting, reaffirmed the importance of the gathering and voiced concerns about implementation gaps. “The income generation document is promising but unless departments internalise and act on it, it risks becoming another white elephant,” he warned.

He also called for improvements in graduate supervision, framing it as a collaborative process that promotes mutual academic growth. “This is the only moment when both student and supervisor engage equally in knowledge production,” he stated. On mentorship, he reminded colleagues of the privilege of institutional proximity: “Unlike the past, we now have several PhD holders and professors. Nobody is too big to learn from another.”

Prof. Yankson provided a reminder on the significance of staff unity and professionalism. He candidly addressed workplace rivalries, referred to as “beefs” and underscored the importance of humility and harmony. He articulated, “Upon retirement, one often realises that life fundamentally revolves around the relationships one has cultivated. Let us refrain from squandering today’s opportunities by engaging in disputes over matters that will ultimately prove inconsequential.”

Earlier, Prof. Evans Asante, Vice-Dean, set the tone by clarifying the purpose of the meeting: “This gathering is to foster open communication, reflect on challenges and promote shared responsibility in advancing the school’s academic mission.” He highlighted the importance of teamwork, mutual respect and operational efficiency in achieving institutional goals.

The general assembly concluded with renewed energy and a commitment to a shared agenda of transformation, focusing on creativity, collaboration and strategic direction. Participants left with a strong sense that the future of the School of Creative Arts depends not just on artistry but on turning imagination into institutional impact.