Let's ensure strong public/private universities partnership

July 19, 2010
Akyawkrom (Ash), July 19, GNA - Mr Paul Victor Obeng, Chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Council, has called on the state-owned universities to strike a strong partnership with their private counterparts.

He said with their vast experience and expertise, the public universities were in better position to share ideas and also mentor the private universities to help them to maintain standards and turn out quality students.

Mr Obeng said given the worsening accommodation problems and the lack of adequate teaching and learning infrastructure in the public universities, the private institutions present an alternative option to absorb the growing number of students, who fail to gain admission to the public ones.

Mr Obeng was speaking at a send-off party for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, which was organized by the affiliate universities at Akyawkrom near Ejisu.

Prof Adarkwa ends his four-year term of office in October this year, and would be succeeded by Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

The KNUST Council Chairman praised the outgoing Vice-Chancellor for his hard work, which brought tremendous development to the university.

Prof Adarkwa said 10 private universities in the country got affiliated to the KNUST during his watch.

He asked these institutions to make sure that they abide by the affiliated agreement, especially in the setting up of examination questions and markings, conduct of students and faculty staff.

The University Council would not hesitate to de-affiliate any private university which falls short of the set standards.

GNA