University of Education announced the merger of URO and OIR

University of Education, Winneba

Management of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) announced the merger of the University Relations Office (URO) and Office for International Relations (OIR) to create the International Relations and Public Affairs Division - IRPAD. The Registrar in a Memo conveyed this decision on March 4, 2013.

The new entity will have the following units: University Relations, Public Affairs, Protocol Services and International Relations and Linkages operating as one consolidated Division of the University with marketing of the UEW Brand and managing the international relations of the University as its core mandate.

The University Relations Office was created in 2006 after the reorganization of the then Public Relations Office (PRO). It served as a channel for supporting, developing and executing strategic communication programmes designed to gain and sustain public support of the University. Its core activities were carried out through the provision of public relations and marketing functions, maintaining a favourable appeal of the university’s image, and facilitating the internal and external University communication through programmes, events and mass media engagements.

The Office for International Relations on the other hand, established in 2003 as the lead agency in the university’s internationalization process was responsible for facilitating the international engagement of the university with its partners, affiliates and linkage activities with foreign universities.

The objective for the merger is to bring together the two offices of the university with complementary service offerings to create a one-stop shop for a wide range of integrated marketing communications activities across the university. IRPAD according to one of the working documents would engage in a wide range of communication activities to include public and media relations, branding, internal and student communications, and stakeholder relations, etc.

The new Division to be headed by the current Deputy Registrar in-charge of University Relations Office, Mr. Steve v. Kamassah will be structured into the following units:

University Relations: - in charge of university functions, such as graduation ceremonies, public lectures, advertisement, marketing and enquiries, open days and communications across the university.

Public Affairs: - deals with media relations, communication activities with the wider public, stakeholders’ relations and coordinating activities on University of Education, Winneba social media platforms.

Protocol services: - in charge of travels, passport and visa services, receiving foreign guests and visitors to the university.

International relations/ linkages: - handles all activities concerning the university’s relations with international institutions such as ACU, AAU, IAU, COL, etc.  It will also handle the linkage activities with foreign universities.

This merger move presents one of the exciting opportunities to work out creative solutions to enhance the university brand and ensure adherence to its strategic objectives of promoting partnership with academic, professional and research institutions abroad. As part of this effort, the Division will be empowered to deploy marketing solutions to attract quality international educational experience to UEW in partnership with the relevant external and internal stakeholders.