UDS APPOINTS NEW VICE CHANCELLOR

On March 29, 2010, the Governing Council of the University for Development Studies (UDS) approved the appointment of Prof. Haruna Yakubu, a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast(UCC) and a Physicist, as the substantive Vice - Chancellor of the University with effect from June 1, 2010. He has since reported for duty.

Prof. Yakubu was born on October 24, 1955, in Tamale, the capital town of the Northern Region of Ghana. He attended Jijiadeyiri Primary School in Wa, Aningazanga Experimental Primary School in Bolgatanga and Kalpohin Middle School in Tamale before proceeding to T. I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School in Kumasi for his secondary education in 1968.

He went on scholarship to Kishinev State University, Kishinev in the former Soviet Union where he graduated with an M.Sc degree in Physics and Mathematics in 1984. After returning to Ghana to lecture at the University of Cape Coast for four (4) years, he entered Moldova State University again in Kishinev, from where he obtained his Ph.D in Semiconductor Physics in 1992. He returned to the University of Cape Coast as a lecturer and by dint of hard work rose through the ranks steadily until his present appointment.

At the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Yakubu was actively involved in the administration of the University and occupied various positions including Head of the Department of Physics, Head of the Department of Optometry, Chairman of the ICT Committee and Dean of Students. He was also a member of the UCC Council for three (3) years before becoming the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University for four (4) years. He has been lecturing for 26 years.

Between 1997 and 1999, Prof. Yakubu worked as a Research Fellow at the Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Environment-ENEA (Department of Energy -Portici) where he researched extensively into solar cell fabrication techniques and alternative sources of energy. Particularly, he worked on the optical characterization of semiconductor materials and solar modules under Standard Test Conditions (STC) and real operating conditions.

He is a member of many national and international associations including the International Solar Energy Society, Centre for Renewable Studies, Ghana Science Association and the Ghana Physical Society.

Prof. has had many honours and awards to his credit and these include: Chairman of Governing Council of Centre for Renewable Energy Studies (CRES), Ghana; Executive Member of the Ghana Solar Energy Society; Member of Governing Council of Foundation for Security and Development of Africa (FOSDA), Ghana; Founding Member of the Energy Research Group, Ghana; and Senior Associate of International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy.

Prof. Yakubu speaks many international languages; English, Russian, Hausa and others. His research interest area is on Energy studies: renewable and alternative sources of energy; solar cell fabrication, installation and sizing of photovoltaic systems; optical studies and characterisation of photovoltaic modules/devices and standards in PV systems.

PROFILE OF UDS

Established in May 1992 by PNDC Law 279: It began academic work in September 1993 with the admission of thirty-nine (39) students into the Faculty of Agriculture, (FOA), Nyankpala.

The Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, (FIDS), Faculty of Planning and Land Management (FPLM) and Faculty of Education, Law and Business Studies (FELBS), Wa, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), Tamale, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources (FRNR), Nyankpala, Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS), Faculty of Computational and Developmental Mathematics (FCDM), Navrongo and the Graduate School now in Tamale were phased in from 1994 to date.

The mission of the University is to run programmes that will effectively and efficiently combine academic work with community-participation and extension.

The University�s principal objective is to address and find solutions to the environmental problems and socio-economic deprivations that have characterized northern Ghana in particular and are also found in some rural areas throughout the rest of the country.

Accordingly, UDS consciously and systematically run programmes that are targeted to prepare the individuals to establish their own careers in specialized areas. Further it equips these practitioners with requisite knowledge to enable them to live and function in any deprived community in the country.

The university presently runs six faculties, one school and two centres of excellence. Further there are Masters Programmes in the social sciences, and sciences leading to the award of doctorate degrees.

TTFPP

The UDS also runs a community-technical interface programme. This is a combination of the academic and community-based field practical work known as the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP). It covers a trimester in each academic year and cuts across all faculties in its integrated approach, and ensures that students live and work closely in communities to formulate specific interventions to address specific challenges

Centre for Continuing Education and Inter-disciplinary Research (CCEIR) at Navrongo Campus ensures coordination of all research activities of the University. The Gender Programmes Unit also leads in the process of gender mainstreaming in the policies and programmes.

Also sited at the Navrongo Campus is the French Language Centre of the University.

Linkages and Association

The University has established academic and research linkages with a number of Universities and Research Institutions both locally and internationally. It is also a member of the Association Commonwealth Universities (ACU), and the Association of African Universities (AAU), among others.

UDS will always remain grateful to the Government of Ghana and all other stakeholders for their tremendous support and goodwill.

Source: uds website