A training programme was organised by the University of Media Arts and Communication’s (UniMAC) Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) for its members at the South Legon Campus. The programme was to coach GAUA members of UniMAC on their various functions and how to carry out their duties in their various jurisdictions, professionally, to impact the vision of UniMAC.
In attendance at the training programme were the Vice – Chancellor – Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, the Pro Vice – Chancellor – Prof. Winston Abroampa, the Acting Registrar – Mrs. Patience Sowah, Rectors of UniMAC’s constituent Institutes, Prof. Christiana Hammond – Rector for the Institute of Journalism and Prof. Samuel Manasseh Yirekyi – Rector for the Institute of Film and Television, Directors and some Senior Members.
Opening the training programme, the Vice-Chancellor challenged GAUA members to identify the challenges confronting UniMAC as a young University and use the power of memoranda, proposals and papers to guide management to take actionable steps at addressing these challenges. He stressed that, not only will the University benefit from the professional solution-oriented outlook of such publications, it would also inure to the benefit of the publishers as such publications would count towards Appointments and Promotions requirements. The Vice Chancellor further alluded to the fact that, the scope of Higher Education operations is broadening and it was time University Administrators take advantage of the opportunity to contribute professionally to making UniMAC great.
Key resource persons for the training programme included Mr. Johnson Azorlibu, a member of the Ad-Hoc Committee for Appointments and Promotions at UniMAC. He brought to the fore some of the gaps identified in staff’s promotions document and delved into the tenets of the Appointments and Promotions policies.
Mr. Alfred Quartey, a seasoned University Administrator with over twenty years’ experience, shared his experiences with attendees. Whilst presenting on the topic, “Professional Writing for Career Progression”, He interpolated his presentation with practical experiences and guided participants on how to make impactful contributions in their various roles. He emphasised the need for GAUA members to be custodians of the University’s Statutes and Policies to guide efficient administration of UniMAC.
The Director of Human Resource at UniMAC, Dr. Mrs. Eleanor Arabs Antwi, also led attendees at the training session, on policies with regards to study leaves and training and development at UniMAC. She intimated that, management was getting alarmed at the non-compliance to policies regarding study leaves and training and developmental requests. She explained the procedures involved, and advised GAUA members to be the example when it comes to compliance to policies.
Throughout the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions which were expertly answered by resource persons. Participants were grateful for the opportunity to learn from seasoned colleagues and were resolved to make positive marks in their different areas of operations.
The session ended with the Acting Registrar giving the closing remarks. Prior to that, some Directors and other Senior Members gave insights into administrative work processes as UniMAC charts a course for efficiency and greatness.
Notably, UniMAC is a merger of the erstwhile Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) and the Ghana Institute of Languages by an Act of Parliament 2020 (Act 1059). The Act envisages a holding University with constituent Institutes with the power to award degrees of the holding University. UniMAC is uniquely positioned to deliver excellence in Media, Arts and Communications education at the tertiary level.
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