Prof. Anamuah-Mensah advocates classification of tertiary institutions
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Zenith University College, Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, has advocated the classification of tertiary institutions in the country.
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Such a system, he said, was necessary because many tertiary institutions had failed in their quest to provide quality education.
“We see many institutions trying to be like the traditional public universities. The system does not allow good differentiation in terms of the classification of courses. We are all doing the same thing all the time,’’ he stated.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah was speaking at the graduation of 228 students of the college on its premises in Accra last Saturday.
It was the college’s second graduation session in the year as 268 students had earlier graduated in June.
Twenty-eight of the graduates pursued Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Classification
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah noted that the best way to differentiate tertiary institutions from others was for establishment of a national policy that would not only classify them but also ensure that their operations conformed to such categorisation.
Such classification, he said, could ensure that the universities were categorised into research and postgraduate universities, science and technology, comprehensive universities and diploma-awarding institutions.
“But to make this effective, there should be a clear national vision with clear goals so that we avoid the recurrence of the current trend,’’ he noted.
Transformation
Another way to transform tertiary education, Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said, was to expand the teaching base of the institutions to include visiting professors, entrepreneurs, inventors, policy makers, captains of businesses and national figures. According to him, such people could share their experience with students and also give them very insightful perspective into practical aspects of life.
“This will encourage the development of entrepreneurial mindset and produce graduates who are job creators and not job seekers,’’ he indicated.
According to the chairman, a transformed tertiary system must not restrict teaching and learning to campuses.
“Learning sites must include companies, internships, exchange programmes and incubator systems that will bring forth new ideas,’’ he stated.
Criticism
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah criticised what he described as the “artificial separation’’ of public and private tertiary institutions.
He said such a system must give way to an “integrated, harmonised tertiary system where quality transcends institutional type”.
He further advised students to inculcate the habit of adapting to change in the face of globalisation.
Improvement
The Rector of the college, Mr Stephen Takyi-Asiedu, said the college had embarked on a massive programme to improve on its management.
“The college has in recent times sponsored a number of training programmes, aimed at not only enhancing professional development of academic and non-teaching staff, but also for academic quality assurance,’’ he stated.