UDs General Assemblies for the 2019/2020 Academic year

VC articulates on 6 key points

Dschang, UDs/SIC-25/09/19. As part of activities marking the beginning of the 2019/2020 academic year, General Assemblies with teaching and non-teaching staff of the UDs chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Roger Tsafack Nanfosso held on the 23^rd and 25^th of September 2019 respectively at the Amphitheatre 1000. Canalizing discussions on six key points including academics, the capacity of the institution, working and living conditions of staff, social Cohesion and innovation, the VC brought out salient points. Concerning the Academic cycle which runs from the 24^th of September 2019 to 26^th of July 2020 (expected date for the proclamation of results), the VC remarked on the slight increase in number of students offered admission into the UDs from 29,500 of last year to 29613 for this academic year, with admissions still open. He presented statistics on certificates issued by the institution for the last academic year as follows:  408 certificates in technological fields, 450 HND, 1485 in Professional Bachelors, 995 in Masters generally with 718 for the research cycle and 176 Professional and 182 PhDs. The VC admonished the essence of staying abreast with the academic calendar available since the 26^th of July so as to get acquainted with the activities programmed for the year.

On point of institutional capacity, the VC commended the progress of academic staff so far. While commending the slight increase in numbers at all levels, he however deplored the fact that some lecturers are not making enough efforts to move to higher grades. He urged associate professors and senior lecturers who have attained the required time frames to do all to progress to the next level as it is or utmost importance for themselves and the university as a whole. He acknowledged the fact that senior lecturers still engage in tutorials due to a limited number of assistant lecturers and said that it is no matter justification not to move to the required rung.

Concerning work conditions, Prof. Tsafack Nanfosso made known to his staff that despite the perennial problem of limited resources, the university will keep striving for good working conditions. On point of staff re-deployment, he said it is geared at maximizing competencies. While remaking on the recognition of some outstanding performances, the VC reiterated the importance of punctuality, assiduity and discipline for quality output. He encouraged steps towards capacity building for staff advising that while the university will not cease to create capacity building programs, staff should be proactive in picking existing ones such as the ERASMUS program.

With regards to living conditions the VC assured a continuation of health insurance which has benefitted more than 3000 staff. He pledged fostering the policy of supporting bereaved staff. Prof. Nanfosso equally unveiled the fact that 45 medals of honors (gold, silver, bronze) have been paid for, ready to be handed over to meritorious workers. With 87 office heads appointed last year, the VC said it is important to keep recognizing outstanding output which is what the University will continue doing.

In terms of social cohesion, Prof. Nanfosso assured his staff that the inter-school competition will continue. On this score, he announced that the launching of the sporting season will take place at Ebolowa. He called on his staff to answer present to the Fitness walk every 3^rd Thursday of the month. He said activities such as the clean-up day foster social cohesion and staff should endeavor to be part. To crown this point, the VC discussed the UDs Corporate Day on every last Friday of the month saying that with 764 university fabrics distributed last year for the march pass activities, (more than enough for the 627 Non-teaching staff,) a good number of staff should be able to be part of the corporate day. He appealed for staff’s full participation in these events and activities that help cement work/social cohesion. 

With respect to innovations, the VC commended the past University games held in 3 localities, the CATI2 Project that supported 17 enterprises last year with 10 in the year before last, with quality assurance to be fostered and many more to be nursed and encouraged. Infrastructural wise, the VC announced the completion of the Post-Graduate building solely financed by the University Foundation. He said it is a milestone in the provision of additional classrooms that will help reduce the class programming challenges.

 At the end of his discourse, a Q and A session opened during which staff, received satisfactory answers to their questions. A lunch was then offered at the end of the ceremony in which all the staff participated. With this the workers of the University of Dschang kick-started the march towards a successful 2019/2020 academic year.