QUALITY ASSURANCE IN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMMES: THE CASE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA E. Kweku Osam Dean, Faculty of Arts University of Ghana

HISTORY OF UG Established in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast. Became the University of Ghana by an Act of Parliament (Act 79) in 1961.

UG’S MISSION Our mission is to develop world-class human resources and capabilities to meet national development needs and global challenges through quality teaching, learning, research and knowledge dissemination.

UG PROFILE UG currently consists of: Colleges 2 Faculties 6 Schools 8 Institutes 6 Centres 8 Departments70

UG BASIC STATISTICS 2007/2008 Enrolment (29,754) Non-Degree1,784 First Degree26,154 Graduate1,816

UG BASIC STATISTICS Nationals96.16% Internationals3.84% Gender Distribution of Total Enrolment Male59.69% Female40.31%

UG BASIC STATISTICS Staff Senior Members (A & A)993 Senior Staff (Tech & Adm)1200 Junior Staff (Support)2581 Gender:Male 77.17% Female22.83%

INTERNATIONALIZATION AT UG UG has a long history of hosting international students and sending students abroad. Hosting through international enrolment Students abroad: Language and Medical Students

INTERNATIONALIZATION AT UG Since the early 1990s, UG has actively sought international linkages through self-initiated and other-initiated bilateral relations. Result: staff and student exchange; increase in enrolment, especially from the West Africa sub-region. New linkages

UG AND CUSAC Active UG participation in CUSAC since So far 19 undergraduate students have benefited.

BENEFITS To the students: International exposure Cross-cultural experience Development of global perspective

BENEFITS To UG International profile Support for our exchange programme Challenge to maintain quality Establishment of administrative structures

SOME CHALLENGES Financial Grade Transfer Restricted Course Registration Timing

PROPOSALS Financial– provide institutional support for students. Grade Transfer– establish grade equivalence. Course Registration– waive pre- requisite. Timing– shift to Fall enrolment.

QUALITY ISSUES UG’s commitment to internationalization is seen in the structures established for that purpose: Creation of the Office of International Programmes since The OIP is headed by a Dean. The OIP has an Advisory Board chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

QUALITY ISSUES Rigorous selection of participants: Dean of OIP invites nominations from Faculties. Deans of Faculties request Department Heads to submit best-performing students based on current GPA. An interview panel with representatives from various Faculties selects final list.

QUALITY ISSUES--OIP The OIP is responsible for: Promoting and coordinating UG’s external relations Marketing UG internationally in order to attract human, financial and physical investment

INTERNATIONALIZATION AND QUALITY UG’s commitment to internationalization has implications for: Curriculum development Teaching Research Administrative processes Staff promotion

ENSURING ACADEMIC QUALITY CONTROL Procedure for: New Programmes New Course Offering Department Faculty Board Planning Committee Academic Board (National Accreditation Board)

QUALITY CONTROL: TEACHING Academic Quality Control Unit Teaching Improvement Workshops Teaching and Course Evaluation with implications for staff promotion and contract renewal Five-year Cycle Programme Evaluation and Review to ensure relevance.

QUALITY CONTROL Teaching and Learning Resources Infrastructural expansion, e.g. Main Library Re-stocking the Library subscription to databases ICT expansion

QUALITY CONTROL: STUDENTS’ LIFE Housing—International Students’ Hostel Campus Security

CONCLUSION UG is positioning itself to maximize its contribution to and benefits from the internationalization of higher education by offering internationally comparable quality education to all its students.