Friday November 23, 2012 goes on record as a memorable day in the history of the University of Bamenda, UBa. Vice Chancellor, Prof Tafah Edokat, on behalf of UBa, signed memoranda of understanding with representatives of four Cameroonian institutions of higher learning. The event took place at the UBa campus, in the presence of top officials of the University, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research and Cooperation (Prof Ndiva Mbua), the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Examination, The Registrar, Technical Advisers and other senior officials.
The rite which lasted for less than 2 hours was characterized by a major speech from the UBa VC; interventions from the other parties concerned, the signing and exchange of files, then photocographs.
Since November 24, 2012 therefore, UBa has cooperation links with the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST), Bengono Toure Genevieve University Institute; the CITEC Higher Institute of Technology and Management and the MAARON Training Institute.
Prior to the signing, Prof Tafah who qualified UBa as “The University of the Future”, reiterated the decrees creating it, specifying one of its missions as being “to establish cooperation links with other national and international institutions of a similar nature”.
He said by signing the MoUs, UBa has opted to build a strong platform for global visibility and influence on and with national institutions. He added that the signing represents a significant milestone in UBa’s pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and outreach services through collaborative initiatives and joint ventures with national and foreign partners. He said these MoUs will open new windows and lenses in science and technology as well as enhance relations between the partner institutions and develop academic and cultural exchange in the areas of education, research and other activities.
Prof. Tafah thereon subsumed the key principles of the MoUs in five (5) points:
1. The University’s institutional relationships with partners will be based upon the pursuit of excellence. This basis of partnership will be driven by significant and useful academic and professional collaborations.
2. Mutual academic benefit, supporting research beyond the scope of a project based in one Institution, should be a key determinant.
3. Partners shall each and collectively mount advocacy to reinforce commitment to work on addressing critical issues of mutual concern and progress. We believe this approach will benefit from UBa’s extensive expertise, and more specifically, from drawing conclusions by incorporating interdisciplinary approaches across the Sciences and Humanities.
4. UBa’s partnership strategy (UPS) is part of a wider effort to facilitate multi-disciplinary projects with possible international dimensions to support new intellectual and strategic developments in society and Higher Education.
5. Building on emerging programmes and future opportunities:
a) Create and enabling environment whereby academic leaders and emerging academics and professionals can identify or nominate themselves for additional support in developing significant projects.
b) Develop a systems approach to scaling up from an individual collaboration to institutional and multi-institutional programmes.
c) Take an international lead in political and policy discussions of relevance to contemporary Cameroon and modern Africa, underpinned by a cultural and historical understanding.
d) To periodically organize showcase events to demonstrate the strength of Higher Education in integrating Humanities and Sciences in our approach to local, national and global issues.
Reactions
All 5 key players involved in the signing had commendations to make.
* Prof Joseph Benah Suh, Vice Chancellor of the Bamenda University of Science and Technology, BUST expressed delight. He said the signing of the pact promotes holistic student development and citizenship training, adding that team work is a basic ingredient to higher educational development.
* Prof Fondoh Sikod, Vice Chancellor of the Bengono Toure Genevieve University Institute said he has a vision about UBa, even though still a young university. He said though his university uses the French language, the global world functions with use of the English language dominating. He said UBa has enormous projects with the sky being its limit. He underscored that the collaboration would be one where the learning would be mutual: “to learn from each other and move forward is our goal”, he averred.
* Prof Martin Amin, Director of CITEC Higher Institute of Technology and Management, pledged that CITEC would ensure quality education through the use of right pedagogic material and teaching and make sure it upholds the quality of training. He further assured that CITEC would stick to the rules and regulations binding the partnership.
* Michael Feugeung, Promoter of Maaron training opined that his institution specialized in international professional education, particularly in the area of business and accountancy. He said he was proud to now work with UBa and not as a closed system. He vowed to do his best to enjoy the best working relationship with all partners of UBa.
* Lady Anna Foncha, wife of the late statesman Dr. John Ngu Foncha was also present, Prof. Tafah had earlier indicated how the event was graced by her presence. She stands at the head of INDECO. She said because her late husband was so interested in the education of children, she was thus not indifferent. She said when she learnt about the signing of the MoUs, she decided not to be absent. According to her with such partnership, “Education in Cameroon would move from strength to strength”.
* Prof Tafah Again: Being the host and the ‘mother’ of all the institutions involved, he had to set a precedence. Facing pressmen at eth end of the signing, the UBa VC said it is a partnership for mutual benefits; a wind-wind kind of partnership wherein all would work together for the development of Higher Education in Cameroon. He added that, this was just the threshold towards the signing of other conventions, especially with degree programs, which could be voted by UBa.
In his concluding remarks to all the actors concerned was the assurance that there would be collaboration. He urged all to take the partnership serious and make a difference with other partnerships that have existed between the public and private universities.
The rite which lasted for less than 2 hours was characterized by a major speech from the UBa VC; interventions from the other parties concerned, the signing and exchange of files, then photocographs.
Since November 24, 2012 therefore, UBa has cooperation links with the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST), Bengono Toure Genevieve University Institute; the CITEC Higher Institute of Technology and Management and the MAARON Training Institute.
Prior to the signing, Prof Tafah who qualified UBa as “The University of the Future”, reiterated the decrees creating it, specifying one of its missions as being “to establish cooperation links with other national and international institutions of a similar nature”.
He said by signing the MoUs, UBa has opted to build a strong platform for global visibility and influence on and with national institutions. He added that the signing represents a significant milestone in UBa’s pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and outreach services through collaborative initiatives and joint ventures with national and foreign partners. He said these MoUs will open new windows and lenses in science and technology as well as enhance relations between the partner institutions and develop academic and cultural exchange in the areas of education, research and other activities.
Prof. Tafah thereon subsumed the key principles of the MoUs in five (5) points:
1. The University’s institutional relationships with partners will be based upon the pursuit of excellence. This basis of partnership will be driven by significant and useful academic and professional collaborations.
2. Mutual academic benefit, supporting research beyond the scope of a project based in one Institution, should be a key determinant.
3. Partners shall each and collectively mount advocacy to reinforce commitment to work on addressing critical issues of mutual concern and progress. We believe this approach will benefit from UBa’s extensive expertise, and more specifically, from drawing conclusions by incorporating interdisciplinary approaches across the Sciences and Humanities.
4. UBa’s partnership strategy (UPS) is part of a wider effort to facilitate multi-disciplinary projects with possible international dimensions to support new intellectual and strategic developments in society and Higher Education.
5. Building on emerging programmes and future opportunities:
a) Create and enabling environment whereby academic leaders and emerging academics and professionals can identify or nominate themselves for additional support in developing significant projects.
b) Develop a systems approach to scaling up from an individual collaboration to institutional and multi-institutional programmes.
c) Take an international lead in political and policy discussions of relevance to contemporary Cameroon and modern Africa, underpinned by a cultural and historical understanding.
d) To periodically organize showcase events to demonstrate the strength of Higher Education in integrating Humanities and Sciences in our approach to local, national and global issues.
Reactions
All 5 key players involved in the signing had commendations to make.
* Prof Joseph Benah Suh, Vice Chancellor of the Bamenda University of Science and Technology, BUST expressed delight. He said the signing of the pact promotes holistic student development and citizenship training, adding that team work is a basic ingredient to higher educational development.
* Prof Fondoh Sikod, Vice Chancellor of the Bengono Toure Genevieve University Institute said he has a vision about UBa, even though still a young university. He said though his university uses the French language, the global world functions with use of the English language dominating. He said UBa has enormous projects with the sky being its limit. He underscored that the collaboration would be one where the learning would be mutual: “to learn from each other and move forward is our goal”, he averred.
* Prof Martin Amin, Director of CITEC Higher Institute of Technology and Management, pledged that CITEC would ensure quality education through the use of right pedagogic material and teaching and make sure it upholds the quality of training. He further assured that CITEC would stick to the rules and regulations binding the partnership.
* Michael Feugeung, Promoter of Maaron training opined that his institution specialized in international professional education, particularly in the area of business and accountancy. He said he was proud to now work with UBa and not as a closed system. He vowed to do his best to enjoy the best working relationship with all partners of UBa.
* Lady Anna Foncha, wife of the late statesman Dr. John Ngu Foncha was also present, Prof. Tafah had earlier indicated how the event was graced by her presence. She stands at the head of INDECO. She said because her late husband was so interested in the education of children, she was thus not indifferent. She said when she learnt about the signing of the MoUs, she decided not to be absent. According to her with such partnership, “Education in Cameroon would move from strength to strength”.
* Prof Tafah Again: Being the host and the ‘mother’ of all the institutions involved, he had to set a precedence. Facing pressmen at eth end of the signing, the UBa VC said it is a partnership for mutual benefits; a wind-wind kind of partnership wherein all would work together for the development of Higher Education in Cameroon. He added that, this was just the threshold towards the signing of other conventions, especially with degree programs, which could be voted by UBa.
In his concluding remarks to all the actors concerned was the assurance that there would be collaboration. He urged all to take the partnership serious and make a difference with other partnerships that have existed between the public and private universities.
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