achieving its overall objectives. The type and nature of academic programmes,
however, have to abide by the requirements and procedures of the National Accreditation Board (NAB), the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the
Governing Councils of the Institutions. To strengthen the partnership between
education and industry, industrial liaison desks have been jointly set up by the
NCTE and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(COTVET).
8.3.1.2 Institutions Promoting Research
At the UG, a collegiate system comprising four colleges was introduced in the 2014/
2015 academic year: (a) Basic and Applied Science, (b) Education, (c) Health
Sciences and (d) Humanities. This collegiate system provides a decentralized
approach for schools and institutes to carry out independent collaborative research
with local and international partners. Through its different departments, research
institutes and centres, faculty members are involved in policy-relevant research that
supports national development, often in collaboration with other universities and
national and international institutions. The various university academic units have
had long-standing formal and informal relationships with the private sector. However, there are only few documented cases where researchers from diverse disciplines work together to deliver sustainability-related knowledge, innovation and
technology through transdisciplinary research processes (e.g. Box 8.1).
Box 8.1: Example of a National Transdisciplinary Research Platform
Including UG Faculty Members
TERSUS Ghana is a private Environmental Sanitation Think-Tank, comprising of a team of senior researchers with different expertise from various
national and international universities. The Board is currently chaired by
Prof. Chris Gordon, from the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies
at the University of Ghana. TERSUS has the mandate of providing adequate
basic sanitation consultancy services in the country. The think-tank brings
together partners from the private sector, government and academia that
provide quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis on a full
range of public policy issues pertinent to the waste management sector. The
main objectives of TERSUS Ghana are to serve as a common national
platform for advocacy on environmental sanitation, and engage with government to enhance its commitment towards a dedicated national sanitation goal.
To support such collaborative research efforts, the UG has established two formal
institutional structures. The first is the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), which was established in 2010. Its mandate is to promote, facilitate
and coordinate cutting-edge research within the university. This unit provides
252
A. M. Mensah and C. Gordon
however, have to abide by the requirements and procedures of the National Accreditation Board (NAB), the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the
Governing Councils of the Institutions. To strengthen the partnership between
education and industry, industrial liaison desks have been jointly set up by the
NCTE and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(COTVET).
8.3.1.2 Institutions Promoting Research
At the UG, a collegiate system comprising four colleges was introduced in the 2014/
2015 academic year: (a) Basic and Applied Science, (b) Education, (c) Health
Sciences and (d) Humanities. This collegiate system provides a decentralized
approach for schools and institutes to carry out independent collaborative research
with local and international partners. Through its different departments, research
institutes and centres, faculty members are involved in policy-relevant research that
supports national development, often in collaboration with other universities and
national and international institutions. The various university academic units have
had long-standing formal and informal relationships with the private sector. However, there are only few documented cases where researchers from diverse disciplines work together to deliver sustainability-related knowledge, innovation and
technology through transdisciplinary research processes (e.g. Box 8.1).
Box 8.1: Example of a National Transdisciplinary Research Platform
Including UG Faculty Members
TERSUS Ghana is a private Environmental Sanitation Think-Tank, comprising of a team of senior researchers with different expertise from various
national and international universities. The Board is currently chaired by
Prof. Chris Gordon, from the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies
at the University of Ghana. TERSUS has the mandate of providing adequate
basic sanitation consultancy services in the country. The think-tank brings
together partners from the private sector, government and academia that
provide quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis on a full
range of public policy issues pertinent to the waste management sector. The
main objectives of TERSUS Ghana are to serve as a common national
platform for advocacy on environmental sanitation, and engage with government to enhance its commitment towards a dedicated national sanitation goal.
To support such collaborative research efforts, the UG has established two formal
institutional structures. The first is the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), which was established in 2010. Its mandate is to promote, facilitate
and coordinate cutting-edge research within the university. This unit provides
252
A. M. Mensah and C. Gordon