UGBS and the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners, Ghana (ICHRMP-GHANA) Launches a Memorandum of Understanding
The University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) and the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners, Ghana (ICHRMP-GHANA) have launched a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17th October 2024. The MoU was signed with the Department of Organisation & Human Resource Management (OHRM) to promote professional development for Human Resource Management students at UGBS. The launch event, themed "Promoting Human Resource Management through Excellent Strategic Collaboration," took place at the ISSER Conference Centre and was moderated by Prof. Damoah Obi Berko, Head of the Department of OHRM.
In his welcome address, Prof. Justice Bawole, Dean of UGBS, spoke about the school’s recent efforts to align students with professional programmes to improve their career prospects. “We have started aggressive conversations to ensure that when students finish their programmes, they can be aligned to professional programmes and quickly move on to becoming professional members of their respective fields,” he said. He further stated, “We are here to celebrate the success of being able to agree to work together and outline that in an MoU.”
Prof. Bawole explained that the collaboration is aimed at jointly equipping students and industry players with the necessary skills to meet professional expectations. He acknowledged the Department of OHRM for taking the steps to facilitate the partnership, noting that the MoU marks a significant milestone in UGBS’s efforts to foster industry-academia collaboration.
Prof. Joseph Awetori Yaro, Provost of the College of Humanities and Chairperson of the event praised UGBS for its efforts to enhance student growth through industry collaborations. “UGBS has proven that the industry can help in improving students’ growth, and collaborations like this would pave the way for easy student internship opportunities for continued learning,” he said. He also lauded the Department of OHRM for taking the initiative, stating, “These are the kinds of things necessary for the university, and such makes UGBS the pacesetters.”
Mrs. Florence Hutchful, President-Elect of ICHRMP-GHANA, highlighted the significance of bridging the gap between theory and practice through such collaborations. She commended UGBS for its leadership in the initiative saying, “This collaboration is a model of the partnership we hope to see between academia and industry in bridging the gap between theory and practice.” She added, “Thank you for leading the way and setting the pace for others to follow.”
She acknowledged that the significance of technology in facilitating HR operations cannot be understated, the fact remains that the future of every organisation hinges on its people and the role of HR professionals will become more demanding hence, action taken.
According to her, the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Ghana will provide the following:
1. Scholarships on its professional certification programme to top female and male students graduating in HR from the University of Ghana Business School every year.
2. Accreditation guidelines and industry standards for all human resource management programmes at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels.
3. Expertise and training to further the Department of OHRM’s goals of promoting industry and academia linkages.
4. Facilitate opportunities for students to engage with seasoned HR professionals in their profession.
5. Promote and recognise the Department of OHRM’s contributions to the institutes, visibility and growth, in particular, the involvement of the department in the Institute's activities
6. Support the department, faculty, staff and students to gain HR practitioner-based knowledge and experiences.
“The implementation of this MoU will give your students a competitive advantage over other institutions that have not yet experienced this blended approach. I assure you that by partnering with the institute, your students will be well prepared to secure key positions in organisations right after completing their national service and other required programmes. In fact, your students will be fully market-ready upon graduation to pursue their desired dreams in their profession.” She assured.
Dr. Francis Eduku, CEO of ICHRMP-GHANA, reiterated the Institute’s mandate to regulate HR practice in Ghana. “As a Chartered Institute, we serve as the bridge between academia and practice, so we will give students hands-on knowledge to pursue our mission in advancing effective human resource management practice in Ghana,” he explained. He also mentioned that the Institute is exploring the possibility of establishing a chair to conduct cutting-edge research in HR management.
Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, UG, emphasised that the MoU aligns with the university’s five strategic priorities: transforming student experience, impactful research, commitment to faculty and staff, partnerships, and sustainable resource mobilisation. He praised UGBS for its commitment to excellence, stating, “This collaboration is not just a formal agreement; it is a shared commitment to advance skills and practices that are vital in an ever-evolving world.” He also acknowledged ICHRMP-Ghana for its willingness to collaborate
In his closing remarks, Prof. Yaro encouraged continuous cooperation and mutual benefits between UGBS and ICHRMP-GHANA, while Dr. Millicent Wiafe-Kwagyan of the Department of OHRM, conveyed gratitude to all dignitaries and participants for their support.