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KNUST rated 1st in world ranking for quality

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The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been adjudged the best university in the world for its contribution to the provision of quality education in line with Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4). 

The prestigious accolade was announced in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings which was published last Thursday.

KNUST secured the top position globally in the Quality Education category with an outstanding score of 93.1, surpassing all other universities worldwide in that category.

Aalborg University in Denmark and Lingnan University in Hong Kong jointly earned the second position.

Context

The Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings is published by the Times Higher Education, a reputable British education magazine, and is considered one of the most reputable and credible university rankings in the world.

The Impact Rankings are the sole global performance tables that evaluate universities based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Employing meticulously calibrated indicators, the provides comprehensive and impartial comparisons across four key areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching, the organisation said in a statement.

The organisation further explained that the THE SDG 4 – quality education – “measures universities’ contribution to early years and lifelong learning, as well as their pedagogy research and commitment to inclusive education”.

The 2023 Impact Rankings, in its fifth edition, encompassed 1,591 universities from 112 countries. 

Reflection of investment

In a reaction to the latest rankings, KNUST officials said the feat was a remarkable achievement that reflected the substantial and strategic investments made by the university’s management over the years.

The University Relations Officer, Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, praised past and current administrations for the phenomenal investments in infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT) and e-learning resources, which had significantly enhanced the educational experience at KNUST.

In addition, Dr Bekoe highlighted the noteworthy endeavours undertaken by the university’s management in assisting emerging researchers through financial support and facilitating the pursuit of impactful research initiatives and subsequently publishing their findings in high-impact journals.

He said that was recognised as a pivotal factor with transformative implications for the institution.

The University Relations Officer also highlighted initiatives such as scholarships for academically gifted but financially disadvantaged students, the Support One Needy Student with One Laptop (SONSOL) programme initiated by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, to bridge the digital divide, and the provision of full scholarships covering accommodation, food, clothing and special vehicles to enhance the mobility of persons with disabilities. 

Commitment to inclusiveness

Dr Bekoe noted that those accomplishments reflected KNUST’s commitment to inclusiveness and ensuring that no student was left behind.

He also commended the management for enacting policies such as gender, anti-sexual harassment and disability policies to safeguard the vulnerable members of the university community, and explained that such policies had created a safe academic environment that fostered improved teaching and learning for all students and staff.

The University Relations Officer expressed the firm commitment of the management to consistently make strategic decisions and investments aimed at enhancing the quality of education.

“This steadfast dedication is driven by the overarching goal of nurturing students who possess not only a profound understanding of their subjects but also exemplary character traits”.

“By steadfastly adhering to this principle, KNUST aspires to equip its students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel not only within Ghana, but also on a global scale,” he added.

Dr Bekoe conveyed the profound appreciation of the university’s management to the dedicated staff and students, invaluable partners and esteemed stakeholders for their immense contributions leading to this outstanding milestone.

The University Relations Officer said this significant achievement stood as a testament to the collective efforts and unwavering commitment exhibited by the entire KNUST community.

Dr Bekoe further emphasised the need for all staff and students to sustain the “diligent” and “persevering spirit”.

Source: Garphic Online.com

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Education

Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana declares total nationwide strike

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The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) has announced a total nationwide strike on Monday, September 16, 2024.

This is to express their demands for improved working conditions, after several protests and negotiations did not yield any result from government.

In a statement signed by National Chairman George Ansong on September 13, the Association expressed frustration over the government’s inability to fulfil previous agreements, highlighting several reasons.

According to them, although an earlier agreement was made, the government has not implemented new rates for vehicle maintenance and related allowances.

The statement also noted that the government has not released Tier Two deductions to Fund Managers since January 2024 and has neglected to recalculate interest on Tier Two pension funds from 2010 to 2016.

The SSA-UoG has directed all member campuses to adhere strictly to the strike directive, emphasising that the government failure to reach the agreement has caused the strike action.

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Education

We’re not ready to work beyond our legally mandated hours

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The leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has expressed its willingness to discuss how to recover lost instructional hours following their two-month-long strike, which lasted from June 14 to August 20, 2024.

The strike was initiated in protest of the government’s failure to implement the agreed-upon conditions of service for CETAG members.

After successful negotiations with the National Labour Commission and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, CETAG called off the strike on Tuesday, August 20.

However, in an interview with Citi News, CETAG’s national president, Prince Obeng-Himah, emphasized that while the association is open to discussions on recovering lost time, the teachers will not agree to work beyond the usual class hours.

“Some time ago, when it happened, we were compelled to teach up to 9 pm, 10 pm, then we started teaching the following day at 5 am. We are not prepared to go along that tangent. We will teach normally.

“It was not through any fault of ours because it is on record that ours is the only legal strike that Ghana has seen where we have gone on strike for two solid months and the National Labour Commission has not been able to pronounce it illegal.

“They have failed in their attempt to secure court injunctions to stop us and all of that. So we did not fault in any way. So if we are looking at Ghana in the face to say that we have called it off, there is no way anybody should impose anything that will put our health and what have you under pressure.”

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Education

NDC pledges to scrap academic fees for first year university students

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The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has made a promise to provide to scrap academic fees for first-year students in public universities.

This policy according to the party is part of a broader set of reforms aimed at making higher education accessible for all, most especially for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

During the party’s youth manifesto launch in Accra on Monday, 12 August 2024, the flagbearer of the party, John Dramani Mahama highlighted several other key proposals including its “24-hour economy policy,” which aims to stimulate economic activity around the clock, potentially creating more job opportunities and improving productivity.

“We will create an enabling environment for young people to thrive and lay a foundation for prosperous Ghanaians not just a few.

“We will increase access to quality education from the basic and second cycle to tertiary levels as well as affordable healthcare and numerous job creation programmes,” he said.

Additionally, the party proposed the establishment of a Ministry for Youth Development, which the Party’s leader, Mahama says would presumably focus on unlocking the full potential of Ghana’s young people.

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