IPS vies for university status

The Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) is in the process of attaining university status when Parliament gives it the green light.

The motion seeking for the transformation of IPS to the University of Professional Studies (UPS) was moved in the august House yesterday by the Deputy Minister for Education, Mahama Ayariga, and was unanimously welcomed by members of both sides of the legislature.

The University of Professional Studies Bill 2011 is now at the consideration stage, and is expected to receive the House's full blessings, barring any unforeseeable challenges.

The purpose of the bill, according to the mover of the motion, was to establish the University of Professional Studies (UPS) to ensure the integration and optimisation of academic and professional programmes taught at the IPS.

The bill also seeks to empower the governing body and principal officers, in the pursuit of their duties and functions, to ensure international best practices.

The ultimate aim for the transformation of the institute into a fully-fledged university was to enable the school produce qualified professionals, equipped with knowledge and life skills for the competitive business environment.

When passed, the IPS would be known and called the University of Professional Studies (UPS).

With the new status, the university would be empowered to establish other campuses outside the current campus elsewhere within the country. It is also empowered to award its own degrees and other certificates.

The Vice Chairman of the Education Committee of Parliament, Alhaji Dawuda Iddrisu, who seconded the motion, told members of the House that the significance of the University of Professional Studies Bill 2011 could not be overemphasised, since it does not only create and enhance access to higher education, but also trains the needed professionals in the area of management, accountancy and banking in general.

The key observation the committee made, he announced, was the 'seemingly narrow definition for 'institute', in terms of scope of professional and academic programmes as 'institute' should run, was derailing efforts at expanding the current programmes to reflect its new status as a tertiary institution, mandated to provide quality higher education.'

Members of the committee, he said, also raised concerns about the departure from the core functions of the various public universities in the country.

To that end, Alhaji Iddrisu appealed to the government and the Council of the would-be University of Professional Studies to be mindful of the core purpose for which Parliament was requested to consider the transformation of IPS.

'The intent of the university, as explicitly stated in the bill, should not be compromised over time,' he added.

Contributing to the motion, the Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, cautioned IPS not to slip like many other universities have done in venturing into other areas, instead of its primary objective.

'We do not expect IPS of tomorrow, subject of the passage of the bill, to begin to pursue courses that hitherto were not done, even though as a liberalised institution they would want to take advantage to do more attractive courses. They should focus on their mandate to offer professional training in areas that have accounting and management expertise, to which they have demonstrated a comparative advantage, compared to other institutions.'

'We've seen instances like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, which was established to primarily promote science and technology in Ghana, today, has drifted away, and is focusing more on humanities and many other areas which essentially should not be so, because, even as a country, we need to bridge the gap between the number of people we train in science, against those trained in the humanities,' he intoned.

According to Mr. Iddrisu, because many other universities had drifted away from their primary mandates, many young graduates of today complain of unemployment.

He argued: 'It is about time that our universities tailor their training to the needs of industry, while maintaining the pedagogical training to those who seek to be in those institutions.'

He expressed happiness about the ongoing expansion works at the IPS, and articulated the hope that other public tertiary institutions would do same, to enable them admit more students.

According to the Tamale South MP, 60% of qualified applicants to the various public tertiary institutions were unable to gain admission, because of limited infrastructure, a situation he bemoaned, remains a fundamental problem to the country.

Also contributing to the motion was the MP for Ahafo-Ano South, S. K. Balado Manu. He reiterated the call for IPS to stick to its core functions in training professional accountants and management expertise for the country.

'Our new baby, the University of Professional Studies, being born today, will stick to its mandate as spelt out in the Act to be that they would concentrate more on training professionals, rather than drifting into the frenzy of admitting students of all walks of life, and begin to mount courses from A-Z. If that becomes the case, we would have defeated the purpose for which the institution is being made a university,' he argued.

Commenting on the motion, Akua Sena Dansua, MP for North Dayi, commended the Rector of IPS, Prof. Joshua Alabi, for his immense contribution to help transform the institute to fully-fledged university status.

She, therefore, urged the leadership of the institute to ensure that in terms of content, training, and infrastructural development, the university continues to grow.

That notwithstanding, she advised leaders of the institute to keep up their managerial and administrative skills in managing the university, in order not to bring to bear too much pressure on state resources.

The Second Deputy of Parliament and MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Prof. Mike Oquaye, in contributing to the motion, also advised the new university to stick to its primary core mandate and become a university of excellence like the Imperial College in the UK, and not drift away like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), since it would create problems for them.

'Madam Speaker, it pains my heart to see the KNUST become a general university, and I must put it on record. It was the dream of the first President of this Republic that it becomes a technology institute of excellence. Madam Speaker, when you don't operate within the parameters of your mandate, you will have a lot of troubles.'

'When they started all kinds of courses, at one time, they wanted a Vice-Chancellor, and then the lot appeared to be fallen on an Arts Professor. There was a big trouble in KNUST, simply because they rose up to say that you can't have an arts man as VC - it has to be a science and technology man. But, they sat by while this happened, and the person, having reason to be certain seniority, it appeared he was the most qualified.'

'So, there are a lot of difficulties when you come to mix up your mandate. I want that from the word go; this institution must clearly know what it is and continues to be so. It is known particularly, for accountancy and related activities. Madam Speaker, our district assemblies are struggling today, because the accountants are not there to serve them. From our Parliament to all our ministries, we don't have enough of those people who are called really chartered qualified accountants in so many dimensions.

'I pray that the university for accounting and related activities primarily, that is backed by Information Communication Technology,' he stated in a perky voice.