Accra, May 11, GNA - The University of Ghana (UG) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of South Florida (USF) in the US to enable it to improve the performances of both students and faculty lecturers. Professor Clifford Bii Boye Tagoe, Vice-Chancellor of UG, said the collaboration would ensure the facilitation of research among the various faculties in mutually interested areas of study between the two universities. He said the primary purpose of the agreement was to provide a general basis within which specific cooperative activities of an academic and cultural nature may be implemented involving faculty and students of both Universities.

The University of Ghana expressed the hope that it would benefit from the collaboration in carious areas including faculty exchanges, especially between students, and further accelerate training for faculty lecturers to the PhD level. Prof. Tagoe said as the projects in education or research were developed, each would require a written MOU, which would set forth the terms and conditions of the projects adding that the agreement would take effect when executed by both parties and shall be terminated at the end of three years. "This agreement shall be automatically renewed for additional five-year period unless either party provides the other with written notice that it wishes to terminate," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed concern about the problem of aging faculties, saying the university had been affected over the years by the brain drain of lecturers, leaving the various faculties depleted. "We have to retain retired lecturers because the young ones have failed to stay due to poor salaries and remunerations," Prof. Tagoe said. He said the University required 1,000 lecturers to be able to function to its fullest, but currently had one faculty lecturer to 39 students, instead of the required one to 19 students.

Prof. Tagoe said though the student population had grown steadily over the years, there had not been any major faculty improvement adding that much needed to be done to improve the situation. The Vice Chancellor explained that faculties and researchers in the various disciplines would be encouraged to develop contacts and propose collaborative projects which would be considered on their merit and on availability of funds. "The two institutions will seek internal and external sources for support of programmes and exchanges, which may be developed as a result of this agreement," he said. Prof. Tagoe thanked the Board of Trustees of the USF and pledged the UG's fullest cooperation to ensure a smooth and successful exchange programme.

Ms Linda M. Whiteford, Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost, USF, who signed on behalf of the USF called on all faculties as well as students to take up the challenge of improving their status.