A three-day University Advancement Workshop, aptly themed “Successful Governance of Universities: The key relationship between the University Council and the Executive Leaders of the Universities has been held here in Accra, Ghana.

The workshop organised by the Association of African Universities in collaboration with the Advancement Academy of Stellenbosch University took place from December 14-16, 2015 with over 30 participants from various countries attending.

Led by the AAU Secretary General, Prof. Etienne E. Ehile, participants observed a minute’s silent in memory of late Prof. Lindela Ndlovu, former VC of the National University of Science and Technology Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, AAU Board Member, and member of AAU-ACBF CADRE II Project Steering Committee, who passed away on November 18, 2015.

This year’s workshop on successful governance of universities is the 6^th in a series of the University Advancement programme, and specifically targeted Chairpersons of University Councils; Vice Chancellors/ Rectors/ University Presidents as well as key senior executive university managers.

In his opening remarks, Professor Domwini D. Kuupole, the Vice chancellor of the University of Cape-Coast and chair for the event, underscored the critical role that interpersonal relationships between various executives play in the successful running of universities and achievement of its goals.

Topics Discussed

The workshop engaged participants on various topics including-

Corporate governance: Management challenges for deans of large faculties; Symptomatic challenges of the dynamic relationship between the VC, University Executive group and the Chairperson of Council/ Council; and Corporate Governance: Obligations, roles and accountabilities and its application in a university context.

  Participants perspectives

Mr. Dube F. Canaan from Zimbabwe is attending an AAU event for the second time and had this to say about the workshop;

“The presentations were rich and in more ways than one. It has been very seminal and insightful. Quite a lot of rich experiences have been shared by those charged with leading institutions of higher education” he said. ‘My recommendation is that AAU puts these rich materials into best practice guidelines for sharing widely with its constituents’

Mr. Abdu Halliru Abdullahi, Registrar and Secretary to the council of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University of Nigeria says that his expectations of the workshop had been met. He further acknowledged the networking opportunities availed to him through his participation in the workshop.

 Background

Since 2007 AAU has organized several workshops on Leadership as well as Management Skills Development for senior executives and middle level managers of African Universities. These aim to enhance the leadership skills of university leaders, particularly in the promotion of innovation and the management of change, and also to strengthen collaboration, networking, and capacity building.

Some Workshop Power Point presentations and other information can be accessed below:

1. Advancement Workshop Day1 Presentation
2. Corporate Governance SU presentation Higher Education Risk Intelligence Map (1)
3. Prof Tobie de Coning_Presentation Slides on Successful Governance
4. Workshop Programme
   
5. Workshop Plans for 2016