Members of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) have been challenged to include stakeholder engagement in their day-to-day administrative activities.
The Executive Secretary of Vice Chancellors' Ghana (VCG), Dr. Cynthia Sena Kpeglo-Freiku, who issued the challenge, stated that administrators should adopt stakeholder engagement as a culture through information sharing, consultation, collaboration, and empowerment among university stakeholders.
Dr. Kpeglo-Freiku, a former Registrar of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, made the remarks at the GAUA Continuous Professional Development Seminar held at UCC.
The seminar was themed: “Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement in Higher Education Management: The Role of the University Administrator.”
Dr. Kpeglo-Freiku urged administrators to develop innovative technological solutions to remain competitive in the current digital era.
“The modern administrator must be technologically savvy, socially sensitive, emotionally intelligent, and a strategic thinker,” she emphasised.
She highlighted the crucial role stakeholder engagement played in enhancing institutional reputation and credibility, as well as fostering student and staff satisfaction.
Executive Secretary of Vice Chancellors' Ghana (VCG), Dr. Cynthia Sena Kpeglo-Freiku (R), receiving a citation of honour from Registrar of UCC, Mr. Gideon Abbeyquaye
“In fact, stakeholder engagement promotes transparency and accountability, supports resource mobilization and partnerships, among others,” she added.
She acknowledged challenges in stakeholder engagement, including: weak communication channels, over-centralization of decision-making, poor feedback mechanisms, conflicting stakeholder interests, and a lack of clear engagement frameworks.
Stressing a call to action, she urged university administrators to “move from being gatekeepers to bridge builders.”
A Lecturer at the Department of Information Communication Technology, Ms. Linda Otoo, who presented on the topic "Artificial Intelligence (AI)", urged university administrators to embrace AI or risk falling behind global administrative standards.
Ms. Otoo emphasized that AI is no longer a future concept but a present reality.
She warned that institutions unwilling to adopt AI-driven changes risk becoming irrelevant in the evolving educational landscape.
She further noted that by leveraging AI as a tool for enhancement, university administrators could secure their operations for the future and unlock new opportunities for growth in their roles.
An elated section of the audience. In shot: Deputy Director of University Health Services, UCC, Pharm (Dr.) Joseph A. Kizzie-Hayford; Senior Assistant Accountant, IEPA-UCC, Dr. Philomena Araba Sam (both in GAUA cloth), and an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Information Communication Technology, Ms. Linda Otoo (in blue)
Highlighting the transformative potential of AI in higher education, Miss. Otoo stated that it could enhance teaching, research, and institutional management.
“AI can help analyse data, automate administrative work, and assist in personalized learning for students. It’s a tool, not a threat,” she explained.
The Deputy Director of University Health Services, UCC, Pharm (Dr.) Joseph A. Kizzie-Hayford, who spoke on "Administrators’ Health and Stakeholder Engagement", advised administrators to manage work-related stress to improve productivity and service quality.
Dr. Kizzie-Hayford emphasized the importance of adequate rest in managing stress and regaining full strength.
He advocated for walk meetings instead of traditional sit-down meetings as a strategy for healthy living.
The Deputy Director stressed that walking is not just an activity but a lifestyle that strengthens the body.
Dr. Kizzie-Hayford expressed concern that many people have developed a preference for foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, which are detrimental to their health.
He encouraged administrators to adopt healthy lifestyles to remain productive.
President of GAUA-UCC, Mr. Felix Adu-Poku
The Head of Legal Office at UCC, Mr. Solomon Gyasi, speaking on “Illegalities in Administrative Work”, admonished administrators to be very circumspect when dealing with third persons.
“So, if you are an administrator in the course of your work, you commit any tort or any civil wrong against a third party, the university would be held accountable, “he added.
Among others, he said employers had become powerful and succeeded to some extent in using the lenient spot of the law to treat casual workers as if they did not deserve the rights given to permanent employees.
Another speaker, the Senior Accountant at IEPA, Dr. Philomena Araba Sam, speaking on “Retirement and Entrepreneurship”, implored administrators to ensure income security in their retirement by planning and investing in their pension while in active service to make their retirement days comfortable.
She said poor management of personal finances, such as lack of financial goals, skewed lifestyle habits, uncontrolled purchasing habits, and low savings, among others, as some factors that contributed to a poor life after retirement.
She also mentioned that entrepreneurship is experiencing a renaissance worldwide, hence it is an area worthy of exploration for members of GAUA to raise supplementary income.
The President of GAUA-UCC, Mr. Felix Adu-Poku, in an address, said the seminar was aimed at building the capacity of University Administrators.
He said GAUA would continue to support members with other beneficial seminars and urged them to be open-minded in receiving knowledge from the various speakers.
The seminar was chaired by the Registrar of UCC, Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye, Esq, who urged administrators to use the knowledge gained to better service delivery in the University.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC