n the 28th, 29th, and 30th of November 2023, Prof Mavis Dako-Gyeke, the Dean of the School of Social Science, met with faculty members, staff and students’ leaders of the school respectively. The meetings variously served as a platform for engagement and to share the vision she has for the school during her term of office which she summarized as “working together to make the School more vibrant, inclusive and visible”. Present at the forum were faculty members from the six Departments within the School of Social Sciences, staff from the office of the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and the Office of the Provost, College of Humanities. All three meetings took place at the Kofi-Drah Conference Room, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana. 

The forum with faculty members within the school was the first in the series of meetings. Mrs. Emelia Nartey, the School Administrator, delivered the opening prayer and welcome message, after which she introduced the team from the Office of the Dean. In his remarks, the Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, lauded the Dean, Prof. Mavis Dako-Gyeke for championing this initiative. He noted that the programme appropriately highlighted all the key elements necessary for running the school successfully. The Provost then touched on key areas of faculty promotion and development, teaching and learning and student experience. Prof. Ofori implored faculty who apply for promotion to take time to fully complete their forms for assessment by their Heads of Department (HODs). He also entreated HODs to take time to get to know their members and their body of work to enable them to give a fair assessment. The Provost further encouraged Associate Professors to aim to complete the cycle and not rest on their oars. Additionally, he raised the issue of the late release of student results and beseeched faculty to try as much as possible to release results within the University's stipulated period. In his conclusion, Prof. Ofori appealed to the faculty to get some much-needed rest. This would prevent them from acquiring stress-related diseases, which would have a negative impact on their health and productivity.

In her presentation, Prof. Mavis Dako-Gyeke, the Dean of the School of Social Sciences shared her vision and mission for the School with faculty. She also touched on several issues that are pivotal to the growth and advancement of the School, including how to enhance teaching and learning in order to attract and admit more students, obtain internship opportunities to train and mentor students to prepare them for the world of work, recruit more faculty members and manage the financial resources of the School effectively and efficiently. She then concluded by imploring all faculty members to get themselves and their students involved in activities of the School, to enhance its vibrancy, inclusiveness and visibility. 

During the interaction with faculty, the topics included: faculty promotion, thesis supervision, grading of examinations and uploading of grades, student advising and students’ evaluation of lecturers, inter-disciplinary collaborations, fundraising, connecting with our alumni, and leveraging alternative income streams. Other issues discussed focused on supporting the editors of the school’s journal and preparing for the school’s international conference. These topics were presented by various Heads of Departments and other faculty members of the School of Social Sciences. 

 At the Dean’s meeting with the Staff of the School, issues discussed included promotions, customer service and optimizing staff efficiency. 

This series of meetings were climaxed with the Dean’s meeting with student leaders from the various departments under the School. Matters relating to increasing student numbers and alumni’s involvement in the School’s programmes, establishing proactive, accountable and credible student leadership, as well as community engagement activities were discussed. 

This series of meetings were climaxed with the Dean’s meeting with student leaders from the various departments under the School. Matters relating to increasing student numbers and alumni’s involvement in the School’s programmes, establishing proactive, accountable and credible student leadership, as well as community engagement activities were discussed.

At all three meetings, there was an opportunity for participants to ask questions and comment on the topics discussed. Faculty, staff and students were pleased with the interaction and called for more of such frequent interactions with the Dean.