University of Education, Winneba Launches Research And Scholarship Funds

The University of Education, Winneba launched two Policy Manuals at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre on 13th April, 2016. The ceremony brought together staff, students, corporate organisations and major stakeholders of education.

The Chairman for the occasion, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah said education is the bedrock of every society and it is the most effective weapon to effect change in society. He added that the kinds of education that challenges the status quo and seeks an improvement in a society or the way things are done are of much importance. He noted that despite the numerous benefits of education to a nation, only 4% to 4.5% have access to tertiary education in Ghana.

In the area of research, he said only 0.3% of research are done in areas of Maths, English, Physics and Biology (UNESCO Report, 2015). He commended UEW for this great stride taken in the arena of education.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Mawutor Avoke in a speech delivered at the Launch, said the principal purpose for which the Research, Innovation and Staff Development Fund is established is to provide a system for regulating the funding, administration, management, investment and disbursement of resources for research, innovation and staff development.

He added that the UEW Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund is part of the University’s effort to reduce the difficulties that some students face in meeting their financial obligations to the University and also aimed at helping selected students meet their basic needs such as food, transportation and books.

The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Kweku Rickett-Hagan, noted that in the past, several research and project works undertaken in higher educational institutions were uncompleted due to lack of funding or inadequate funding support. Some students have also had to drop-out of their courses because of financial encumbrance.

Those students who did not drop-out failed to excel in their exams due to poor concentration exhibited during their periods of study as a result of financial challenges. He said the Research fund is meant to stimulate the zeal to conduct innovative research in diverse topical areas in the University and the nation at large, whiles the UEW Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund is to help improve upon the academic performances of students and ensure high retention rate for students from poorer backgrounds.

In a statement read by Prof. Mohammed Salifu, Executive Secretary of National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) on behalf of the Deputy Minister for Tertiary Education, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, the initiative to set up the “Brilliant but Needy Scholarship Fund” is in the right direction and should contribute towards giving more substance to policy of inclusiveness in the University of Education, Winneba.

He commended the University on the bold initiative and called on all stakeholders of education, civil society organisations and industry partners to give it as much support as they can. He suggested that it would be important to think of research and innovation in relation to students on the campuses as well, so that students’ energies and talents would not be wasted on numerous extra curricula activities.

Present at the Ceremony were Principal Officers, Principals of the Colleges of the University, Deans, Directors, HODs, Staff, Students and also MCE of Effutu traditional area, Hon. Nana Tagoe.