UEW to Ease Accommodation Pressure on Students Next Academic Year – Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke, has indicated the University of Education, Winneba’s (UEW) resolve to complete the construction of the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS) hostel sites 1 and 3 to ease accommodation pressure on students next academic year.
He assured the university community and stakeholders of completing 11 projects by the end of his tenure on Saturday, 30th September, 2023, of which the GUSSS hostel sites 1 and 3 would definitely be part.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed this today, Friday, 25th August, 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 centre 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 revealed 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 centres, would be completed on schedule.
Prof. Mawutor Avoke
Prof. Avoke commended 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 fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) worth GH₵749,300.00 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 urge you to cultivate meaningful relationships with your peers, mentors, family, and lecturers. These connections can open doors, offer guidance, and provide support throughout your career. Be adaptable, open to new experiences, and willing to pivot when necessary. Your ability to embrace change will be a key driver of success. It is important to acknowledge that setbacks and challenges are part of life. Don’t be discouraged. Learn from failures, bounce back stronger, and use adversity as a stepping stone to growth,” he advised.
A total of 8,356 students will be graduating at the Second Session of the 27th Congregation scheduled from the 25th to 26th August, 2023. Out of the total figure, 1,732 students would be awarded diplomas, 5,492 students would be awarded bachelor’s degrees and 1,132 students would be awarded various postgraduate degrees. In the bachelor’s degree category, 182 obtained first class, 932 had second class upper, 1,755 had second class lower, 1,821 had third class and 802 obtained a pass.
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