Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra has admonished university authorities and management officials across the African region and beyond to take a leaf out of the copybook of his institution on how to implement self sustaining financial model to shape up the space of higher education in today’s ever digitizing world and to keep being relevant globally.
The call comes on the back of the University of Professional Studies, Accra hosting the 2024 QS Africa Forum which brought together captains of industry , educational authorities , public officials and development partners to brainstorm on how to redefine educational financing and tailoring industry relevant curriculum which prepares innovative and job ready graduates to transition into the world of work .
The highly publicized and well attended event took place over two days, September 9-10 on the campus of the prestigious university in Accra and was on the theme; “Empowering Africa’s Youth; Integrating Entrepreneurship , Future Skills and AI/Technology in Education For A Sustainable Future”.
Speaking as the Esteemed Host of the Global Gathering, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey intimated that in a space where unlimited wants are chasing scarce government resources , the strategic vision of the UPSA was to be creative and smart in developing a financing model that limits waste of school funds and realigns priorities from Internally Generated Funds to provide a world class infrastructure and conducive environment for teaching and learning which is needs based rather than overly focusing on state funding for its activities.
” In an era of ultra competitiveness for limited government funding and unlimited wants in the public space, we as management of a globally prestigious tertiary institution like the University of Professional Studies , Accra have chosen to develop a self sustaining financial model where the aim is to maximize use of revenues accruing to the institution and also cut wasteful expenditure by realigning our priorities to meet the sophisticated demands of our key stakeholders(students) who patronize our services.
This conscious decision by management has transformed the landscape of the university from looking like a village courtyard or abandoned old factory to the well planned and zoned out ultra modern campus consisting of high rise buildings and residential facilities for the ever increasing and diverse population of students and staff members”.
Also, Professor Amartey further revealed that the focus of the institution is moving towards creating a values based entity where meritocracy and efficiency are the key watchwords in the operational administration of the institution where a private sector mindset reigns supreme.
” Due to our focus and vision we hold in high esteem and inculcate into our students and staff to be responsible ambassadors of a world class organization to be war ready advisedly and relevant in whatever space they find themselves in across the continent and globe and be difference makers whose impacts solve the ever changing dynamics of university education in a contemporary world”.
