ANUC commended for sponsoring students for graduate studies
A former Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School, Professor Aaron Lawson, has commended the management of the All Nations University College (ANUC) for its strategic decision to sponsor many graduates to pursue further studies abroad.
Advertisement
Such sponsorship, he said, had enabled the university to standout in developing full-time faculty, contrary to what pertained in several tertiary institutions that depended on part-time faculty.
“The sponsoring of graduates abroad, I believe, makes ANUC uniquely different from many other tertiary institutions in the country where the recycling of human resource has become the norm,” he stated.
Faithful to obligation
At a luncheon organised by ANUC at Koforidua last Sunday, Prof. Lawson stated that “through this sponsorship policy, the contribution of part-time faculty to the total strength of departments has paled into insignificance at this university.”
The event was used to honour seven lecturers of the ANUC who were sponsored to pursue further studies abroad and had returned to serve the university for six years as faculty.
The seven, who graduated from the ANUC between 2008 and 2014, were sponsored by the university to pursue their masters in various disciplines in renowned universities in India.
Upon completion of their courses, they returned home to serve as full-time lecturers and administrative officials.
In all, the university has so far sponsored close to 100 graduates to pursue their master’s and doctoral degrees in Canada, Japan, India and Ghana.
Commendable sponsorship
Prof. Lawson stated that the policy of sponsoring graduates to further their studies and return to serve as faculty was a commendable system that was practised in most universities all over the globe.
That, he stated, was the surest and fastest way of developing human resource for an institution.
“Indeed, for any institution to thrive in this competitive world, it must recognise that any value added to an employee is value added to the institution as a whole, and employees are eager for opportunities to develop their skills to add value to their institutions,” Prof. Lawson explained.
Inspiring loyalty
He stated that while some beneficiaries of scholarships might consider the practice of coming back after further studies to serve as merely fulfilling a bond, “I choose to see it as something that signifies loyalty.”
He indicated that in a society where it was increasingly becoming difficult to find people who kept their word, he considered the coming back home of the ‘sponsorees’ to serve as faculty as inspiring.
“Finding out that these graduates after successfully completing their courses did not seek greener pastures elsewhere but came back to serve as faculty give me a lot of hope.
“I hope that in the coming years the university will have more graduates who have trained outside come back to impact the lives of their students and hope we are raising a new generation of faculty who can be trusted to keep their word,” he added.
Loyalty is rewarding
The former Provost of the College of Health Science of the University of Ghana, who narrated how he also gained sponsorship for further studies outside and returned home to serve the country after his course, stated the commitment of sponsored graduates to remain loyal always came with its own challenges, especially when they felt they had missed some golden opportunities elsewhere.
“But let me emphasise that loyalty builds character and your decision to serve as faculty is a great service not only to ANUC but also to Ghana at large. You are helping to shape the minds of future leaders, therefore, take pride in that,” he added.
Creating enviable faculty
The President of ANUC, Dr Samuel Donkor, said the university aimed at creating one of the best faculties in the country not only to equip its students for every good work, but also to become competitive.
“The only way to empower our faculty is to make sure that they are well-endowed; hence, our decision to encourage and train students to prepare themselves for the task.
“We are glad that those who went for further studies abroad have come back to serve the university to fulfil their obligations; we are happy that your commitment, dedication and faithfulness have inspired us.
“These things should encourage us because we want you to get your doctoral degrees to become great researchers and build an enviable institution in Ghana and Africa,” he said.
Appreciation
The Controller of Examinations, Mrs Vera Aboagye, one of those who were sponsored for further studies abroad, thanked the President of ANUC, Dr Donkor, and his wife, for offering them scholarship to further their studies abroad.
“It is really a blessing to be given such a privilege and we thank Dr Donkor and his wife who God has used as instruments to bless us,” she stated.