The College of Education, University of Ghana (UG), will establish an endowment fund to support research and doctor of philosophy (PhD) work.

Professor Michael Tagoe, Acting Provost, College of Education, UG, said in shaping the future of education in Ghana, the College also plans to establish Centres of Excellence and Chairs in Education and Communication Studies.

“We also plan to increase awards for excellence for students, staff and faculty. The college will introduce graduate online courses to afford students flexibility and convenience,” Prof Tagoe stated over the weekend in his address at a Durbar and Colloquium of the College of Education, UG, in Accra.

“The College will continue to actively participate in Ministry of Education’s programme of Transforming Teacher Education and Learning,” he added.

The Durbar and Colloquium, which was opened by Prof Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State for Tertiary Education, was held as part of activities marking the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the UG, on the theme “Celebrating Excellence, Shaping Futures”.

Prof Tagoe said when the University was established, education was perceived as a catalyst for accelerated national development and therefore, the founders found it fit to establish an Institute of Education and Department of education on this campus.

He said unfortunately, the Institute of Education and Department of Education were transferred to the University College of Science Education, Cape Coast now University of Cape Coast, by a Presidential fiat.

He said although the UG was not happy with the decision it could do very little about it.

“We are happy to state that 2014, the College of Education came into being along with the three other colleges of the UG,” he said.

“Today, the college is made up of three schools and eight departments. One of the strategies of the college is to use proven learning technologies to drive teaching and learning.”

He said the College of Education was committed to the removal of barriers that restricted access to education, and to ensuring that students were able to combine their studies with work, family and social responsibilities.

“We also believe that when technology is utilised efficiently and effectively in teaching and learning, there can be success in university-level studies, through excellence in teaching, research and scholarship,” he said.

He said in the area of research and scholarship, though a small college, they had identified collaboration with institutions in Africa and other parts of the world as one of the strategies they could pursue to improve research output.

Prof Tagoe said in that regard, the College had instituted a Research Fund to support early career researchers and faculty in their research. “We believe that this noble beginning will go a long way towards instilling the culture of research in the college,” he said.

He said one of the strengths of the College of Education was the Annual New Year School that had been organised for the past 69 years and had over the years given the University the opportunity to open its doors to the public and allowed ordinary people to deliberate on matters of national importance.

On teaching, Prof Tagoe said: “The philosophy of establishing the college of Education is to improve upon the training and quality of teachers at all levels of the educational sector.

“It is in this respect that the school of education and leadership is planning to establish a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and innovation to drive research at the basic school level and also shape school policies in Ghana.”

On the College’s strategic plan for the period 2016-2021, the Provost said the College had made great strides in its implementation.

He said the College had identified five key priorities to focus on - research, teaching and learning, internal stakeholders, student/faculty/staff recruitment and retention, monitoring and evaluation.

He said: “As a college, we are constantly seeking ways to promote the wellbeing of our staff, and will do everything possible to ensure that our students graduate having developed the key skills critical for the 21st century world of work; complex problem solving creativity, communication, team-work, emotional intelligence, integrity, commitment, critical thinking, and collaboration.”

Prof Samuel Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, UG, said the University had since its inception, turned out thousands of students at various levels, who were contributing in various ways to national and worldwide development and remained a leader in research into societal problems.

He said the University aims at aligning the curricula of its programmes to meet the needs of industry, and to provide solutions for knowledge creation, and the introduction of new skills and technologies.