Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah encourages University of Education, Winneba Distance Education Students
Distance Education not for Academically Weak or Desperate People – Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah
Fresh Undergraduate, Postgraduate and International Distance Education students from the Southern Sector (Zone 1) have undergone a day’s Intensive Pre-Academic Orientation Programme at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre. The event, which took place on Saturday, 1st September, 2018 was organised by the Institute for Distance and e-Learning.
The Orientation, which was on a range of topics, offered students excellent value for money opportunities and discussed various issues pertaining to their studentship and programmes at their Study Centres.
Vice Chancelor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni giving a presentation at the programme
Welcoming the fresh students, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, on behalf of the University’s Governing Council, Management and Academic Board congratulated them for choosing UEW as a place of study. He continued that UEW is the pioneer of Distance Education and can boast of training 92% of every 100 students to become professional teachers. “Every professor and Lecturer is a professional teacher.” He said.
He assured them that despite their schedules as students and professionals in various fields, they will get the best of tuition from high caliber professionals adding that, as soon as tutorials begin, all courses mounted will have the associated manuals for students.
Prof. Afful-Broni informed the students that, programmes will be tailored to suit their needs and encouraged them to multi task and develop critical skills that will help them make full use of the opportunities UEW has to offer.
Director of IDeL, Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah
Director of IDeL, Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah said Distance Education or Open and Distance Learning is not an educational programme for people who are academically weak to acquire ‘inferior’ certificates or gain degrees without studying hard. Neither is it for the desperate or people who cannot gain admission into regular programmes.
He explained that it is an alternative mode of providing quality education for people who for various reasons do not want to study full time in residence. Prof. Owusu Mensah explained that Distance Education follows the same curriculum as the regular programmes.
He continued that the Institute is going to introduce other electronic means of accessing their course modules aside the tablets which are already in use.
Fresh students listening attentively during the Orientation
Outlining some of the many advantages of learning by distance, he said the flexibility of Distance Education allows students to manage their learning and life styles, continue playing their roles within the community and family and also exposes them to new and emerging technologies. It helps inviduals to earn an income to support themselves and their families while schooling at the same time.
There were presentations on the following topics: Time Management; General Overview of Distance Education; Tutorials, Challenges and Counselling Services; Academic Rules and Regulations; Channels of Communication at UEW; Procedures for Online Registration of Courses; Cleanliness/Keeping Good Sanitation at Study Centres; Finance/Student Loans and Distance Education Students Association (DESA).
Deputy Registrar, IDeL, Mr. William Agyei-Bieni
Female facilitators (front row) at the programme
Facilitators for the presentations included the Vice-Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni; Director, IDeL, Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah; Deputy Registrar, IDeL, Mr. William Agyei-Bieni; Vice Dean of Student Affairs, UEW, Dr. Christiana Hammond; Senior Assistant Registrar, Student Records Office, Mr. Raymond Boison; Senior Lecturer, IDeL, Ms. Beatrice Torto; Admissions Officer, IDeL, Ms. Vida Dare; Principal Accounting Assistant, IDeL, Miss Jessica Kwami and the Distance Education Students Association (DESA) President.
In attendance was the Registrar of the University, Surv. Paul Osei Barimah Esq.
Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni , Surv. Paul Osei-Barimah Esq,-Registrar ( right) Prof. Francis Owusu-Mensah and President of DESA (UEW)
