Story by Hannah Dadzie
It is believed that government alone cannot carry the country on its shoulders, for the economy to thrive. It needs the participation of relevant partners and organizations. It is against this backdrop that the Vice-Chancellor of the Wisconsin International University College, Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn has advocated for local private-public partnership in all sectors of the economy to help avoid the economic crisis in the country.
Dr. Fynn said this will go a long way to ensure accountability in the economy. He advised government to focus on monitoring, evaluation, and make sure it gets taxes to grow the economy. He said Africa will continue to suffer if there is no partnership to work together for the common good. He said this when the new executives of the Ghana Journalists Association paid a working visit to the school in Accra.
The visit by the new executives of the Ghana Journalists Association to the Wisconsin International University College was to strengthen partnership between the two bodies for mutual benefit. Wisconsin International University College, a private experiential university established in 2000 offers programmes such as BA, Bsc, MA and MSc in Communication Studies, Nursing, Law, Music, and Entrepreneurship, among others.
The executives of the GJA were taken on a tour of some facilities in the school including, a Moot Court for practical lessons for the Law School, radio and television studios for its Communication School, a recording studio for Music School, and a Skills lab with hospital set up and logistics for its Nursing School, among others. The school wishes to develop world-class human resources equipped with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to meet national development needs and global challenges, through quality teaching and research.
The Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn said the private sector has a lot of expertise and resources that when given the chance, could be used to operate the education, agricultural, health, and other sectors of the economy to stabilize especially as the nation is currently facing financial crisis. Dr. Fynn said individual educational institutions and businesses were thriving and at least were stable amid the economic crisis, hence they were going to be great managers when given the chance to build and operate various sectors of the economy.
“We should not depend on the Government because we might get disappointed. Countries like America and Europe are great because individuals run the country and not the government. Churches, Missions and organizations should be allowed to handle some institutions like the Education Sector” Dr. Fynn said
To reduce the burden on cost of education on parents and learners, Dr. Fynn said the University has reduced the cost of MBA programme by 50 percent from GHc36,000 to Ghc18,000 to enable applicants to access quality education.
“Wisconsin International University College, Ghana is not a profit-minded institution. So the university is not charging students what pertains in the market currently. When one completes here, the person is well equipped because we have the facilities. With nursing, there are manikins which does everything just like humans and it helps the students learn faster. The broadcasting and law students also have all the necessary equipment to aid their learning,” The Vice-Chancellor indicated.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour appealed to the University to support the GJA to help upgrade members professionally. Mr Dwumfour commended the school for the successes chalked up within 22 years of existence and assured management of a more collaborative effort to build the media fraternity and the country as a whole.
“We commend the University for producing graduates who are helping to develop their various countries. There are more opportunities at this University. The GJA is planning a summer school in partnership with the University. The GJA pleads for support in areas of training capacity workshops and quota which will develop the mental capabilities of the GJA members as well as upgrade themselves.” Mr. Dwumfour.
The Wisconsin International University College says it will give scholarships to deserving communication students who want to further their education. It said it was therefore training entrepreneurs who would not add up to the canker of unemployed graduates, but be employers to employ others. This the school believes will cut the burden on government and help the country to grow.
