The Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Seidu Alhassan has taken steps to strengthen the age-long existing ties between the institution and media practitioners in the country.
The Vice Chancellor held a press soiree last Saturday, (December 16, 2023) with broadcast journalists and reporters among other stakeholders in the northern region in recognition of the invaluable contribution and role the media has played over the years in shaping the progress of the university.
In his remarks, Professor Seidu Alhassan said the student population of the University has grown from 39 students from its establishment in 1993 to over 26,000 students.
But of course, the Vice Chancellor indicated the progress made is not about the numbers but the quality of human resources the school is producing despite the numerous bottlenecks students complain about including their welfare.
“Hitherto, our students had complained about a number of things in terms of their welfare; so we have immediately put in measures so that students who graduate [this year in particular, this last graduation], all students who came to take part and graduated, they left the campus with their certificates and transcripts” he stated.
He emphasized, “I think that is the beauty of graduation, you’re graduating and you’re going home with your cert and transcript. It used to be a problem for us, we want to fix that and we should be able to fix it.”
Prof Seidu further disclosed some steps taken as a research based University to address some critical societal issues in the areas of healthcare and agribusiness affecting the populace especially in the north.
“It was right on my vision that we need [as research institution] to be able to part of those who facilitate the growth and development of the shea sector. The women, the processes are having huge problems; so what is happening is that we want to focus on how we can help to reduce the laborious nature of the work” he asserted.
He added the intention is to establish laboratories at the UDS Nyankpala campus to assist the female farmers in testing of the produce in order to stop them from traveling to Accra for the same service.
“We are currently having discussions with International Labor Organization [who are presently in Tamale here] as a result of the work I helped them to do to help the women directly by providing equipment to them and if as a University our engineering unit can also manufacture those equipment, the University would be happy to be part of the deal” he posited.
The Vice Chancellor said the University in partnership with a private investor is presently working to set up a magnetic resonance imaging scan center to provide the requisite services which is hard to come by in the area, for which reason people travel to the Kumasi and Accra to acquire such services.
He therefore used the opportunity to urge the press to support the efforts of the University by reporting adequately and accurately to propel the image of the institution to the general public.
“Now, where do you come from? We do all these things with different approaches and one of our main approach is collaboration and partnership. You will hear and then you will sort out and then you will say it; you will see then you will report” he admonished.
