Admission of students into the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, (UESD) at Somanya in the Eastern Region, for the next academic year is underway. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson reiterated this when he led a seven member delegation from the University to call on the Management of Ghana Oil, GOIL, in Accra. The delegation included the Registrar, Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong and some Senior Members of the University.
The visit formed part of the University’s outreach to organisations whose vision aligns with that of the University. They were received in the conference room of the company by the Group CEO and Managing Director, Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh and his three member team.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson told the meeting that the UESD is poised to admit its second batch of students for the 2021/22 academic year, since it was inaugurated last year. He said, the first batch of students will soon be writing their second semester examinations in October, 2021 to end the 2020/21 academic year. Prof. Nyarko-Sampson continued that, the University has put measures in place to simplify the application process and therefore encouraged eligible applicants including students currently writing WASSCE to apply.
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that as one of the three youngest Public Universities in Ghana, ‘the best way to make a candle shine brightest is for it to be displayed in the open,’ he added. It is for this reason that Management of the University has drawn a schedule to create awareness in various ways including paying courtesy calls on agencies and institutions to create and build rapport for mutual benefit through collaborations or partnerships.
He expressed the hope that UESD and GOIL could form synergies and complement each other in various areas of shared interests.
On programmes at the University, Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said currently, the University is running two out of its five Schools; the School of Sustainable Development and the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, SNES. He said, a third one, the School of Built Environment will soon be added. Prof. Nyarko-Sampson then invited his colleagues to make their submissions.
The Vice-Chancellor said, as a knowledge-based institution there is the need to involve the people in the Somanya township and its environs. This is why it has established the Community Engagement Unit at the University to engage with the people in alternative livelihood activities they are involved in.
In her contribution, the Registrar, Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong, talked about the core values of the UESD, acronymed H.O.P.E which stands for Honesty, Opportunity, Perseverance and Enterprising. She explained the core values form the main fabric of the University and students who would pass through the University will be trained to exude these traits in their dealings with society.
She was hopeful a collaboration with the University would yield great prospects, ‘which cannot be missed’. She ended her submission with a three-minute documentary of the University which featured facilities including the Lecture theatres, the Auditorium, the University Hostel, the offices of the University and other on-going projects on campus.
The Director of Physical Development and Estate Management, DPEM, Dr. Isaac Abbam, touched on the facilities at the University. He said, the University has fully furnished state-of-the-art smart buildings which are disability friendly. It also has Lecture theatres with more than a one thousand (1,000) seating capacity, a Laboratory which houses various equipment used to test water, soil, climatic research and other projects. He therefore urged the Management of GOIL to reach out to the University in research and related areas.
The Deans of the two Schools of the UESD; Prof. Anthony Amoah of the School of Sustainable Development, SSD and Prof. Edward Wiafe Debrah of the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, SNES, took turns to introduce the programmes on offer in their Schools and indicated that most of them are strongly linked to the activities of GOIL, hence the need for a partnership.
They explained that programmes like BSc. Energy and Resource Economics, BSc. Energy Sustainability, BSc. Geography and Earth Sciences, BSc. Sustainable Development and BSc. Environment and Public Health are directly related to both the offshore and onshore activities of GOI. They therefore called for partnership in areas such as data sharing, students internship and research.
The Group CEO and Managing Director of GOIL, Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, was appreciative of the visit by the UESD teamand expressed delight in the University’s interest to partner with GOIL. He said, the University’s proposal for collaboration and partnership is welcome. Mr. Osei-Prempeh was confident of the benefit both institutions stand to gain if they strike a partnership.
He said GOIL employs a lot of science-based students and expressed the hope that the UESD will not lose its focus as a science-based university. He said, as a public entity, GOIL is always ready to associate with activities that are directed towards the livelihood empowerment of the Ghanaian people, because it is one of the best ways to effect social change on a much larger dimension.
The Chief Operations Officer of GOIL, Mr. Alex Josiah Adzew, supporting the CEO’s submission, indicated that the company has arrangements with other universities which include internship opportunities for students, data sharing, and transfer of expertise among other areas.
He said similar arrangements can be made between GOIL and the UESD. He was hopeful that such an arrangement will ensure that the students are kept in touch with industry before they graduate.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, later presented some GOIL souvenirs to the delegation. It was received by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson.
Other members from GOIL in the meeting were; Mr. Marcus Dake, Head of Corporate Affairs and the Public Relations Manager, Mr. Robert Kyere.
The Head of the Community Engagement Unit Mr. Daniel Ofori-Minta and representatives from the University Relations Unit, URO of UESD were also in attendance.