Accra, April 27, GNA - The Methodist University College (MUCG) on Friday unveiled a five-year strategic plan, which gives the school a blueprint to undertake specific development projects between 2006 and 2011.

It is also designed to enable the university to take a major step forward towards the achievement of its vision to develop and promote academic excellence, spirituality, morality and service in society. The strategy focuses on providing the facilities and education that will prepare students to meet the manpower needs of the country, promote research to be applied to national problems and develop students' capacity for critical thinking and problem solving. The Very Rev. Prof. Samuel Adjepong, Principal MUCG, said the plan sought to provide job opportunities, effective use of technology, promotion of healthier physical environment and holistic development of students' skills, knowledge and attitudes.

He said an estimated total capital of 400 billion cedis was needed to execute the plan to achieve the set goals within the five-year period, that is, 80 billion cedis per year. The Principal noted that an initial business plan guided the university in its toddling years but its growth in recent times had been more rapid and therefore a more comprehensive strategy direction had become imperative to enable the university to take full advantage of the opportunities around.

"People have to learn, unlearn and relearn in order to be competitive on the local and global markets and higher education institutions should therefore gear themselves up to cater for this shift in paradigm."

Rev. Adjepong stressed that it was in this light that the university had come up with the strategic plan to define a clear and compelling direction that recognised the rapidly changing and challenging demand environment in which it currently operated and be responsive to it.

According to the plan, in order for the best faculty to be attracted and retained, there have to be significant increases in salaries for both academic and administrative staff bearing in mind the need to maintain them.

Rev. Adjepong said he was optimistic that all the stakeholders would have the right sense of ownership so that they would work hard to realise the benchmarks.

The Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church, the Rev. Dr Akwasi Aboagye-Mensah who launched the plan praised the university, saying it had remained focused and had now drawn up a five-year strategic plan to guide it towards the realisation of its vision and fulfilment of its mission.

He emphasized the defined strategy of the plan to develop both physical facilities and academic programmes, as well as recruit various categories of staff and admit students for the three campuses. The Presiding Bishop pledged the church's continued commitment and unflinching support both financially and materially to the university in its march to attain a status of distinction.