University of Sierra Leone on the Right Path

The Management of the University of Sierra Leone is mapping the way forward for an effective and efficient managerial framework. A three day retreat of administrative and academic staff has commenced in Bo on 29th April, 2021 to deliberate some of the bottlenecks relating to staff and students ratio in all the faculties, the academic calendar, teaching and learning facilities, grading and assessment framework, number of modules offered, promotion criteria, extra mural and short courses and condusive learning environment.

The University Registrar, Mrs Olive Barrie says the retreat is a “surgical review” of the University’s systems. The VC&P, Professor Foday Sahr says ” we are here to fix our problems”.

**Registrar USL says we are here for surgical review of our systems**

He further stated that this strategic engagement will have positive impact on the visibility of the University. Two senior officers of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), attended the meeting and also contributed immensely.

***The VC&P USL says we are here to fix the problems.***

The DVCs made brief opening statements and thereafter the keynote address was delivered by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof Alpha Wurrie.

**The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof Alpha Tejan Wurie, contemplating his Key note address**

The Minister emphasized the operating features of a premier University in terms of digitization, enrollment and admission requirements, quality and standard of programmes, staff profile, teaching and instructional materials and the credibility of grading systems.

The Minister, Prof Alpha Wurrie also admonished the University to raise standards and be focused on delivering degree programmes.

The entire morning and part of the afternoon was dedicated to faculty presentations. Some of the emerging issues included:

• Current programmes – number/type of programmes (cert, dip, degrees); honours/general,

• Planned future programmes,

• Admission requirements,

• Staffing profile – number and qualifications,

• Exams regulations/processes –timelines for examinations, promotion criteria, missing grades & references, submission of grades, dissertation submission, exit verifications and publishing of grades for congregation planning.

It became obvious that large faculties should be divided and action taken to ensure that every programme is supported by the right mix of staff (qualifications and lecturer:student ratios):