UGBS Faculty Convenes for Strategic Leadership and Policy Discussions During Annual Retreat at Peninsula Resort
As part of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) faculty retreat, distinguished scholars: Prof. Kweku Osam- Former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Pro VC) of the University of Ghana, Prof. Margaret Ivy Gyan- Chair of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori- Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management (OHRM), UGBS, and former Provost of the College of Humanities, and Prof. Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi- Founding Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, UG were invited on 26 th September, 2024 to present on leadership, ethics, sexual harassment policies, and the future of education in the era of digital technologies.
Prof. Kweku Osam presented on, ‘Ethical Leadership’. He spoke about the importance of honesty, trustworthiness, and adherence to ethical principles among faculty members. Recounting his leadership journey, he cited significant contributions, such as the introduction of the Bachelor of Arts in Chinese, the 48-hour transcript issuance system, initiating the university’s subscription to Turnitin, and the introduction of the UGBS MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management programme. He used his contributions to demonstrate the importance of understanding how the university works, appreciating the system, and contributing to its development. He urged faculty members to familiarise themselves with the university regulations, the institutional culture, and to prepare themselves for leadership roles.
Prof. Margaret Ivy Gyan followed with a presentation on “Introduction to the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy of the University of Ghana”. She provided a detailed overview of the policy, which was first introduced in 2010 and revised in 2015. Prof. Gyan explained the need for the policy, citing its objectives and the importance of creating a safe environment free from sexual harassment. She explained that harassment is any act that makes the opposite sex uncomfortable. Further, she outlined the approaches to reporting incidents and available support services, encouraging faculty to actively contribute to maintaining a harassment-free university community. “Let us help the vulnerable rather than abuse them,” she urged.
Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, in his presentation titled "Building a High-Performing School: Reflections of a One-Man Soldier," delved into leadership and team dynamics. He described leadership as “an art, a belief, a condition of the heart,” rather than a set of tasks. Prof. Ofori spoke on the responsibilities of team members and the need for a high-performance culture at UGBS. He reminded Heads of Department (HoDs) of their responsibility such as attending academic board meetings, joining school management committees, CoH Appointments and Promotions Committee and the UG Appointment Board.
“To deliver what is expected of us, we need to inject edge and discipline into the way we go about our work. High-performance cultures turbocharge organisations,” he stressed. He noted that challenges such as insufficient resources and bureaucracy are common but urged faculty members to think like a “one-man soldier” and always fulfil their duties.
Concluding the series of presentations, Prof. Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi addressed the theme “Looking Ahead in the Era of Digital Technologies and AI: Solidifying the Gains.” He focused on the Bloom Taxonomy and how to apply it assessing learning outcomes. He also discussed the impact of data algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) on education, detailing how tools like Sakai and PrepAI can enhance academic assessments.
Speaking on the global trend in AI, Prof. Oheneba-Sakyi remarked, “Students expect to be provided training on the effective use of AI and to be involved in deciding the types of AI tools used in their education.” He encouraged the faculty to embrace these technologies to improve learning and teaching experiences. The retreat allowed for engaging discussions during a question-and-answer session, with participants reflecting on the insights shared by the esteemed professors.