UBIDS Accreditation Staffing Probe Ghana: New Programs Halted

• The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has suspended all new academic programmes amidst a parliamentary probe into accreditation, staffing, and debt issues.
• The Ghana Parliamentary Committee on Education is investigating UBIDS's capacity to run 177 programmes with only 227 lecturers and its financial viability.
• UBIDS faces a GH¢114 million government debt for land acquisition and lost 55 critical staff during its transition to autonomy.
• The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has approved UBIDS to recruit new assistant lecturers to address staffing shortages.
• Despite challenges, UBIDS's School of Law achieved a high pass rate in professional exams, and the university established a center to address significant gender disparity in postgraduate enrollment.

The probe into UBIDS accreditation staffing probe Ghana underscores the operational challenges faced by the university as it transitioned to full autonomy.

The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has halted the introduction of all new academic offerings following an intensive investigation by the Ghana Parliamentary Committee on Education. This parliamentary scrutiny, which included an oversight visit, is examining a significant backlog in program accreditation, severe shortages in faculty, and substantial infrastructure debt plaguing the institution. The probe into UBIDS accreditation staffing probe Ghana underscores the operational challenges faced by the university as it transitioned to full autonomy.

During the parliamentary session, the Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee, Joseph Kwame Kumah, issued a stern warning regarding the risks associated with operating unaccredited programmes while simultaneously experiencing critical faculty shortfalls. He highlighted historical instances where educational institutions were compelled to discontinue and 'teach out' failing courses, emphasizing the potential jeopardy for students enrolled in such offerings. The committee's inquiry has brought to light the complexities of managing a rapidly evolving tertiary institution in Ghana.

A key issue under review is the university's accreditation process, which became complicated when its former parent institution declined to handle accreditations. This situation necessitated UBIDS to independently re-package and submit an extensive list of 177 programmes for official approval. Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, the Member of Parliament for Offinso North, led a comprehensive inquiry into the strategic and financial viability of the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.

Dr. Asamoah raised pointed questions about the institution's capacity to sustain 177 programmes with a teaching staff of only 227 lecturers. He also highlighted a notable imbalance in student enrollment, noting that 1,898 weekend master's students significantly outnumbered the 356 regular students. Further concerns were voiced regarding the feasibility of UBIDS launching a medical school by 2027 without a dedicated teaching hospital or adequate faculty. The MP also sought accountability for the utilization of a GH¢10 million seed fund and expressed apprehension over a projected tenfold increase in casual staff expenses, all contributing to the broader discussion on UBIDS financial viability.

In response to the parliamentary committee, UBIDS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, robustly defended the university's position, attributing many of its financial and infrastructural difficulties to external constraints. He revealed that the government still owes the university GH¢114 million for land acquisition, a long-standing debt that has severely impeded campus development initiatives. This outstanding payment directly impacts the university's ability to expand, with a planned 600-bed facility only capable of accommodating six percent of its approximately 10,000-student population.

Addressing the critical staffing shortages, Professor Derbile explained that UBIDS lost 55 essential staff members to the University for Development Studies (UDS) during its transition to autonomy, a situation he attributed to inadequate transfer protocols. However, the university has since secured approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to recruit new assistant lecturers, a step aimed at mitigating the faculty gap. This move by GTEC is crucial for addressing the UBIDS unaccredited programmes issue by ensuring sufficient qualified personnel.

Despite the significant infrastructural challenges that have impacted its competitiveness in student admissions, UBIDS has also reported notable academic successes. The university's School of Law recently achieved a significant milestone, with 27 out of 47 graduates successfully passing their professional entrance examinations on their initial attempt. Furthermore, the flagship Practical Training Programme (PTP), directed by Professor Stanley K. Dary, continues to contribute to regional development by deploying students to local communities for advocacy and skills training.

However, the parliamentary session also brought to light a stark gender disparity within the university's postgraduate enrollment. Female representation declines significantly from 52 percent in diploma programmes to 27 percent at the master's level, further dropping to just 15 percent at the PhD level. To address this imbalance, the Vice-Chancellor announced the recent establishment of the Centre for Gender Diversity and Social Inclusion, an initiative designed to actively mentor female candidates and promote greater equity in higher education.

This development highlights the critical importance for legal counsel advising Ghanaian tertiary institutions to ensure robust compliance with accreditation standards and to proactively address staffing and financial viability issues to mitigate regulatory and reputational risks, especially concerning student enrollment in potentially unaccredited courses.

Source: Original reporting via Carbonatix