The authorities of the University for Development Studies (UDS) have initiated steps to commence the operation of the Wa and Navrongo campuses as separate universities.
The Chairman of the UDS governing council, Mr Nutifafa Kuenyehia, gave the hint at the weekend, at the UDS, here in Tamale.
He announced that the council had already constituted a transition team tasked to ensure smooth commencement and operations of the two new universities that are being carved out of the current UDS.
Mr Kuenyehia was speaking at the congregation of UDS in Tamale to award various degrees to deserving graduate students, who have completed various programmes of study in the university.
The chairman explained that the transition team had also been tasked to ensure a cordial working relationship between the current UDS and the two new universities on a sustainable basis.
The Wa and Navrongo Campuses of UDS soon to be autonomous universities will be called University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, and University of Technology and Applied Sciences respectively.
Mr Kuenyehia further indicated that the bill was before parliament and expected to be passed soon.
“The bills for the conversion of UDS Campuses into autonomous universities were presently before Parliament, and it is our expectation that Parliament would pass them sooner than later,” he stated.
Mr Kuenyehia also indicated that the council would work assiduously to ensure that all campuses get needed resources and logistics to ensure their smooth operation.
He, therefore, called for total cooperation and collaboration from all stakeholders for successful implementation.
The Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, outlived plans to introduce new courses for the next academic year.
He mentioned that the National Accreditation Board (NAB) had given the university the approval to run a number of undergraduate and graduate programmes.
These programmes according to him, included Forest Resource Conservation and Management, Ecotourism and Hospitality Management, and Environmental Management and Sustainability.
Prof. Teye appealed to the government to complete the numerous uncompleted projects in the various campuses of the university.
He, however, commended the government for the commencement of the construction works on its Nyankpala campus roads.
A total of 221 graduands comprising five PhD students, 85 Master of Philosophy (Mphil), 51 Master of Science (MSc) students, 28 Master of Arts (MA), 22 Master of Education students, 21 Master of Communication students and nine Postgraduate Diploma students, graduated from the university.
FROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE
