On Friday, June 16, 2023 the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) launched its five-year strategic plan 2020-2025 held in the Auditorium of the Multipurpose Building of the University. The launch was attended by representatives of the Vice-Chancellors Ghana (VCG), NGOS, ERA, the UESD Council, and Management members of the University Community. The Key Note Speaker was delivered by the Director of the Management Service Division (MSD), Public Service Division (PSD) Mrs. Fati Bodua Seidu.
Giving the highlights of the Strategic Plan, the Chairman of the Strategic planning Committee, Prof. Anthony Amoah who is also the Dean of the School of Sustainable Development (SSD) stated that the fifty-four (54) page document is segregated into ten (10) thematic thrusts. These are: Academic and Non-Academic programmes, Use of Technology, Finance, Linkage and Collaborative research, University Faculty and Staff, Internationalization, students’ Development, Security, Institutional awards and Motivation and Infrastructure Development and Management.
Prof. Amoah stated that all the 10 thematic thrusts have strategic goals that direct their focus. He said, the SWOT analysis is used in the document to summarise the strengths and weaknesses in the University’s resources-based capabilities and its value-chain activities as well as Opportunities and threats identified in the external environment. He expressed gratitude to Management of the University for the support given to members to execute their mandate.
The 54- page document was launched by the Director of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education, Prof. Yayra Dzakadzie, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum. Prof. Dzakadzie said, as one of the youngest public universities in Ghana, UESD has made significant studies in Environmental and Sustainable Development education in the last two years. He said, in the face of mounting environmental crisis and societal transformations, UESD’s 5-Year Strategic Plan represents, ‘our commitment to the principles of Sustainability, Innovation and collaboration’. He stated that the UESD Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for collaboration, innovation and knowledge dissemination in pursuit of these goals and called on its stakeholders in the public sector to work together towards a future that is environmentally responsible socially just and economically resilient.
The Keynote Speaker, was the Director, Management Services Commission, MSC of the Public Services Commission, PSC, Mrs Fati Boadua Seidu who spoke on: The Relevance of Strategic Plan in the Public Sector said, Strategic Plans have helped to develop institutions over the years and she challenged Management of UESD to emulate from the success stories of older institutions to implement the UESD 5-Year Strategic Plan.
The Chairman of the UESD Council, who also served as the Chairman for the launch, Prof. Jonathan Narh Ayertey said, the UESD 5-Year Strategic Plan was developed through consultative process with stakeholders in education and agribusiness largely by the staff members of the University.
He said, the Plan acknowledges the dynamics of the environment and the need to develop collaboration between academia and industry.
Prof. Ayertey reiterated that, the mandate of the University as stated in Act 2015 (Act 898), is to provide higher education, disseminate knowledge related to developments in environment and agrobusiness education, undertake research and foster good relationship with persons outside the university community. He stated that the strategic plan takes into consideration these envisaged changes at the University as well as other external factors that likely to influence the operations of the University.
Prof. Ayertey was confident that the document will serve as a good roadmap for the University in the next five years.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UESD, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson urged the University Community to read and understand the content of the Strategic Plan and see what is in it for them and what they can also do for the University.
There were solidarity messages from VCG, EPA and the Unions of UESD-UTAG, GAUA, SSAG, and TEWU Gh.
The Registrar, Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong was the facilitator of the launch
