Kumasi, May 23, GNA- The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), will soon launch a two million-dollar endowment fund to support the University in its expansion programmes and other commitments. The fund would also help the University to be self-sufficient to complement the efforts of government to ensure its growth and development.

Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of the UEW announced this during a meeting with Managers and Senior Editors of media houses in Kumasi on Monday. The interaction was to enhance the UEW-Media relations and convey the University's agenda to the public.

The theme for the meeting was "The Role of UEW in the implementation of the National Education Reforms, addressing the Agricultural, Technical, Vocational and Technology Gap in the Educational System". He said the University serves as a center of excellence that inculcates in its products the requisite academic ability and professional competencies.

Professor Anamuah-Mensah said the students are instilled with humanistic values for teaching at the Pre-Tertiary level, conduct research, disseminate relevant knowledge and skills as well as influencing educational policies.

He said the University has a total enrolment of 23,262 in its campuses at Winneba, Kumasi and Asante-Mampong made up of 13,026 full time students, 8,906 students pursuing Distance Education and 1,330 students offering part-time and Sandwich programme.

The Vice-Chancellor said the strategic plan of the University in future was to improve on infrastructure, initiate innovative programmes, establish partnerships and address imbalances in the educational system. He mentioned some of the completed projects as a 500 capacity lecture theatre, a library block and an Information Communication Centre (ICT) at the Kumasi campus, a library block at Winneba and a 400 capacity theatre at Mampong Ashanti.

Dr Steve Sobotie, Principal of the Kumasi Campus of the College of Technology of Education, said the major obstacle facing the University was encroachment of its acquired lands by private developers and hoped that the problem would be resolved to ensure development. He also mentioned some of its problems and challenges as inadequate workshops and laboratories for practical teaching, learning and research funding and the threat of the construction of the Kumasi-Sunyani highway, which may take a chunk of the campus land and appealed to the government to address such problems.

The participants commended the University for its research work especially the use palm trees in making furniture and urged the public and business community to patronize its research works to develop the country. Professor A. Asabere-Ameyaw, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, also lauded the media for projecting the image and development of the University and hoped the gesture would be continued to enable the public know of its importance.