By Nasratu Kargbo
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has in a press conference announced it move to ensure system structuring and upgrade in both academic and administrative processes in order to improve on the quality and performance of the University.
Speaking at the press conference, the Vice Chancellor (VC) and Principal University of Sierra Leone, Professor Foday Sahr said over the years, it has been realized that Sierra Leone’s higher education system has been negatively affected by various factors ranging from poor faculty oversight, limited staff training opportunities, ailing research infrastructure, to lack of an effective quality management system. The Principal explained that it is as a result of some of these that “some lecturers at higher education level are unable to align course content with the needs of job market and to meet the aspirations of the growing number of students”.
Prof. Sahr added that they had a retreat in Bo from 28th April 2021 to 1st May 2021 on the theme “Re-Engineering of the University of Sierra Leone” to find solutions to existing problems.
At the end of the retreat, he said key recommendations which have been considered and approved by the University Senate were made. He added that after the senate’s approval, project groups were set up to implement the various objectives over a period of 12 months.
The principal stated that one of the themes is the “Harmonization of admissions and assessment processes including exit verification and promotion criteria”. “We have reviewed the University of Sierra Leone’s admission or entry requirements and have also harmonized the students’ promotion criteria and exams verification processes,” he said.
Speaking on the second theme, “Centralized Coordination of Extramural Courses with the setting up of an institute of Extramural studies (community college)”, the Principal explained that the university intends to establish “an institute of Extramural Studies; that is, community college to focus on certificate and diploma programs for the benefit of candidates who could not get the normal university or departmental entry requirement to train in areas that will provide skills for employment and subsequent university admissions”. He added that other branches will be setup in “all provincial and key district headquarters”, and that the university has commenced preparations which include resource mobilization targeting 2021 or 2022 year, for commencement.
“Splitting, merging and creation of new faculties or departments” was one of the themes discussed by the Principal. He explained that an academic workload audit was recently conducted, “During the audit exercise, it was discovered that some faculties and departments are too large whereas others are comparatively too small” Prof.bSahr said. He explained that the Lecturer-Students ratio and class sizes can go a long way in impacting the quality of learning.
Therefore, “the Faculty of Management Sciences at IPAM will be spilt into three faculties. Faculty of Accounting and financial services, Faculty of Leadership and Governance and Faculty of Business Intelligence and Entrepreneurship.”
He added at FBC “the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law will be split into two faculties, Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economic and Development Studies”. And that the “Faculty Arts at FBC will be split into two faculties, Faculty of Communication, Media and Information Studies and Faculty of Arts”.
According to the VC, as a result of the “acute shortage of dentists in the country, the Faculty Clinical Sciences will commence the training of dentists”, for this reason he said the Faculty will be renamed the “Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Dentistry”, and the Faculty of Nursing be renamed “Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery”. He added that a new faculty of Public Health and Infectious Disease will be created.
The Principal noted that a framework for three virtual learning resource centers, and training of staff and development of eLearning materials has been mapped out and an initial budget has been approved to kick-start the procurement process.
He added that the online master’s program has been identified and that the project group is developing classifications for various postgraduate programs such as Taught masters, Professional masters and Research masters.
On Review of Administrative Functions which he said was the fifth theme, the VC stated that it was deemed necessary to review some of the university’s administrative functions with the aim of ensuring best practices.
He commended the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie saying, “We are grateful to the Minister Prof. Alpha Wurie, especially for taking time to attend the opening session of the Bo Retreat”, and other senior officials in the ministry.
In his statement, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie said President Julius Maada Bio has deemed it fit that the education sector is manned by two independent ministries, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and Ministry of Technical and Higher Education. He stated that the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education should provide the work force that is required for this country in all spheres. He said the Eastern Polytechnic will be upgraded to Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone whilst the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology will be transformed to the Milton Margai University of Education and Technology.
“My appeal this morning is that the structure developed be monitored and adopted by other universities,” he said.
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