Nyankpala (N/R), May 23, GNA - Professor John Kaburise, Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has said that the institution was established with a specific mandate to address problems of society, particularly in the rural areas.

He said in line with this objective, the UDS course contents were different from those of other universities, adding: "Development studies in the UDS is not a course but a way of thinking".

Professor Kaburise was speaking at the inauguration of the second in the series of Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP) at the Nyankpala campus on Monday.

The TTFPP enables students to stay within the rural communities for about three weeks to interact with the people to learn about their problems and help find solutions to them.

The inauguration marks the period for some 800 second-year students from the University to spend three weeks each in the Techiman, Wenchi and Tano communities in the Brong-Ahafo Region for field training. Professor Kaburise said the TTFPP was unique and that through the practical training, the students would be better placed to know and appreciate the real development needs of the rural people, which would help them to make more pragmatic policies decisions in public office in future.

He said through the programme the university had been able to train graduates with practical and relevant knowledge and skill which was evidenced in the high demand for graduates of the UDS in the job market. The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to be respectful and abide by the customs and traditions of the host communities. 23 May 06