By Kodjo Adams
Accra, Sept 18, GNA-Mr. Frank B. Adu Jnr., the newly appointed Chancellor of the African University College of Communications and Business (AUCB), has pledged to transform the institution to equip graduates with the digital, analytical, and ethical skills required in a rapidly changing world.
The Chancellor said universities could no longer rely on traditional educational models when technology, data, and artificial intelligence were reshaping virtually every profession.
Mr. Adu Jnr. said this as part of his vision during his investiture as the first Chancellor of AUCB in Accra.
The institution was transitioned from the African University College of Communications to a fully-fledged University after receiving a Presidential Charter.
Mr. Adu Jnr. said the AUCB, established in 2002, must reposition itself to reflect the demands of the modern economy by integrating digital literacy, data analytics and artificial intelligence across its programmes.
Drawing on his three decades in the banking sector, the Chancellor compared the banking industry of the 1990s with today’s highly digitalised environment, noting that transactions that once required customers to queue in banking halls could now be completed with a few clicks.
He said the transformation was not limited to banking but was occurring across media, communications, healthcare, insurance, engineering, and manufacturing.
“We are in a digital and data-driven world,” he said, stressing that data had become indispensable to decision-making and organizational management.
As part of his vision, he said students would be equipped to use digital tools to improve productivity, analyse data, generate insights, and solve complex problems.
He also called for data analytics and digital literacy to be embedded across the university’s curriculum rather than treated as isolated courses.
He further proposed the digitalisation of the AUCB’s administrative operations, saying the entire student journey from admission to graduation should be technologically enabled.
Mr. Adu Jnr. said the university would consider establishing technology-focused facilities and programmes, including an AI centre and short professional courses in analytics and technology.
The objective, he said, was to ensure that graduates moved from the lecture hall into the workplace with confidence and familiarity with the technologies used in industry.
He proposed an industry-embedded education model designed to produce “practice-ready” graduates.
That, he stressed, was necessary because universities should move beyond simply seeking periodic feedback from businesses and instead involve industry practitioners directly in curriculum development and teaching.
He proposed the creation of a practitioner faculty comprising experienced chief executives, entrepreneurs, communication executives, consultants, and other professionals who could serve as industry fellows, executives-in-residence, or entrepreneurs-in-residence.
The Chancellor explained that the practitioners should contribute to teaching through real-life business experiences and case studies, helping students understand both successful and unsuccessful business decisions.
He also called for greater use of African and Ghanaian case studies instead of relying heavily on examples from Europe, North America, and Asia.
The Chancellor proposed the establishment of academic chairs, bringing scholars and industry together to address real-world challenges and generate research relevant to both academia and the business community.
He pledged to focus on ethical leadership in communication and business, saying technical competence alone was insufficient in an era of digital media and artificial intelligence.
Mr. Adu. Jnr. stated that integrity, character, and sound judgement were equally important.
He expressed concern about misinformation, shallow analysis, generalisations, and the use of unacceptable language in public discourse.
The Chancellor said his administration would work with the alumni body to build a vibrant network capable of strengthening AUCB’s reputation and expanding opportunities for its graduates.
He pledged to work with the university’s shareholders, governing council, management, alumni, and partners to mobilize resources and position AUCB for its next phase of growth.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Kodjo Adams
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]