Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, the newly inducted Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has proposed a new Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) to build educational leadership capacity for quality teaching environment.
The Centre will be expected to move GIMPA into 21st century with emphasis on ICT in teaching and learning and will seek to appoint “Teaching Fellows” with terminal contracts to support the Centre.
Speaking at his investiture of in Accra, the Professor pledged to bridge the gap in GIMPA classrooms between theory and practice of management which had widened far enough to affect GIMPA’s ability to attract clients from industry and government.
“I envision a focus on elite programmes designed jointly by academics and seasoned experts in industry and public sector. A shift from the traditional pulpit-style lecture would be replaced with case-based instruction. The new CTL would facilitate partnerships with industry and the public and private sectors”.
The New Rector said his vision was based on the pursuit of both academic and professional excellence and a beacon of hope for the nation, showing the way for other universities in “our space and beyond” to entrench GIMPA’s quality reputation across Africa and the globe.
“At the end of my tenure as Rector, I envision a globally-oriented GIMPA that prides herself on her unique contributions to national development through enhanced quality of service delivery with partnerships with alumni, industry, and the public sector”.
He said the Institute had appointed Quality Liaison Officers throughout the Units to develop data collection strategies to help make decisions on the basis of sound and relevant data, adding that all Units would be trained to that effect.
Prof Bonsu said his administration would focused on research, providing incentives and other support as necessary.
“We plan to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for making GIMPA a major hub of research in Africa which will include a re-consideration of the erstwhile “foreign-based” faculty programme and reshaping it as a mentorship programme to enhance the GIMPA brand,” he said.
He pledged to work with Council to build their new Library equipped with the comforts of contemporary digital libraries and stated that, conversations had been initiated with some friends abroad to help realise these goals.
He said his administration would improve on its revenue assurance to save for future activities, tightened its financial management and constitute a committee on institutional re-organization of the Institute for improvement.
Mr Kofi Darko Asante, Chairman, GIMPA Council, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new Rector, said his appointment was an acknowledgement of his expertise.
Among other challenges, he mentioned facing the Institute, was infrastructure, and was optimistic that the problems would be addressed head on.
Mr Asante described GIMPA as a unique higher education institute which had trained and produced first class public servant, private sector and non-governmental organization who had championed the development of the country.
GNA