The University for Development Studies (UDS) has organised a two-day workshop on Performance Management and Quality for Higher Education for middle management administrative and professional staff. The Workshop aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Administrative and Professional staff capabilities in performance management and  service quality at the University.

The workshop, which was held at the University’s Tamale Campus, in the Andean Andani Conference Hall, brought together over 50 middle management administrative staff from various departments and faculties of the university. The participants included Senior Members who were heads of departments, sections and units of the various administrative directorates who were comprised of Faculty and School Officers, Faculty Accountants, Auditors etc.

In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan, emphasized the importance of performance management and service quality in higher education. He noted that the university's administrative and professional staff play a critical role in supporting the academic programmes and activities of the institution. The Vice-Chancellor stated that the workshop was designed to equip participants as middle management staff of the University with the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance their performance and improve the quality of services they provide. The focus was to resolve the challenges of our students the reason for which we are all engaged in the university, he said.

As part of his vision to transform the university and to equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide service quality in every spectrum of the university he declared 2025 as the year of training and capacity building.

The workshop covered topics such as performance management, Tools for managing performance, measuring and monitoring, implementing and sustaining improvements, conducting effective performance appraisals, linking performance to development, service quality, and creating a culture of excellence. The participants were also taken through practical exercises and group work to enhance their understanding and application of the concepts.

The facilitators of the workshop included experts from the Department of Management, Accra Metropolitan University, with experiences from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). The Lead Facilitator, Professor Goski Alabi, is the President of the Accra Metropolitan University with a wide range of experience from both academia and industry.

One of the participants, Mr. Michael Ansa, a Senior Assistant Registrar in the Accra office of the University for Development Studies, expressed his gratitude to the university for organising the workshop. At an evaluation of the first day of the workshop, he indicated that the question posed by the lead facilitator as to between “an employee who was very committed but less competent and an employee who was not committed but very competent, who was more dangerous” remains lingering in his mind. He noted that the workshop had provided him with valuable insights and skills to improve his performance and provide better services to students and faculty members.

The workshop was organised by the university's Training and Development Department under the supervision of the Registrar, Mr Nurudeen Abubakar Issah.

Written by:
Mr. Joseph Attiah, 
Faculty Officer/Deputy Registrar, 
Nyankpala Campus