Leadership Education through Extracurricular Civic Engagement

This study evaluates an experiential learning civic engagement model of leadership education at a liberal arts university in Ghana. The extracurricular program, in which students apply for and receive funding for service projects aimed at impacting children and youth, includes ideation, project management and diversity training, coaching, and structured reflection. Key objectives include positive impacts on the community, growth in students’ leadership and project management competencies and increased civic engagement on campus. Document analysis, interviews with student project leaders and focus groups of community stakeholders were used to assess the degree to which the program met these objectives. Findings indicate that student led projects, particularly those in schools, can lead to academic and non-academic benefits for pupils, and that relationships between university student volunteers and pupils, teachers and parents are an important mechanism for pupils’ academic gains in the Ghanaian context. Service project leaders reported learning gains in 12 out of 13 leadership and project management competencies measured in the study. The funding increased overall student, faculty and staff involvement in community service and brought greater equity to extracurricular community service. The study suggests that such programs can enhance the civic purpose orientation of the university

The applicability of the Harvard and Warwick models in the development of human resource management policies of large construction companies in Ghana

Organizations develop and implement Human Resource Management (HRM) policies which are a reflection of their philosophy on how they intend to manage people. The factors outlined in existing HRM models, especially the Harvard and Warwick models, as influencing HRM policy development and practice, fall within the political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal domains as well as what the Harvard model describes as organizational situational domain. These models were however developed in the North American and European contexts. The question arises as to whether these models hold true in the context of developing countries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ghana to identify the factors which influence the development of HRM policies of large construction organizations operating within the Ghanaian Construction Industry. The data was analyzed using narrative and thematic analysis techniques. The results indicated that, the factors identified by respondents can be regrouped under the domains identified in the existing HRM models, suggesting that the factors to consider in the development of HRM policies in the North American and European context do hold true for the Ghanaian construction industry. However, further research is recommended to validate the factors identified in this study

Effect of training on the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets on the burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, south-west Ethiopia: baseline results of a cluster randomized trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Ethiopia, the utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLITN) is hampered by behavioural factors such as low awareness and negative attitude of the community. The aim of this study was to present the design and baseline results of a cluster randomized trial on the effect of training of household heads on the use of LLITN.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This baseline survey was undertaken from February to March, 2009 as part of a randomized cluster trial. A total of 11 intervention and 11 control <it>Gots </it>(villages) were included in the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Centre, south-west Ethiopia. House to house visit was done in 4135 households to collect information about the use of LLITN and socio-demographic variables. For the diagnosis of malaria and anaemia, blood samples were collected from 2410 under-five children and 242 pregnant women.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One fourth of the households in the intervention and control <it>Gots </it>had functional LLITN. Only 30% of the observed LLITN in the intervention and 28% in the control <it>Gots </it>were hanged properly. Adults were more likely to utilize LLITN than under-five children in the control and intervention <it>Gots</it>. The prevalence of malaria in under-five children in the intervention and control <it>Gots </it>was 10.5% and 8.3% respectively. The intervention and control <it>Gots </it>had no significant difference concerning the prevalence of malaria in under-five children, [OR = 1.28, (95%CI: 0.97, 1.69)]. Eight (6.1%) pregnant women in the intervention and eight (7.2%) in the control <it>Gots </it>were positive for malaria (P = 0.9). Children in the intervention <it>Gots </it>were less likely to have anaemia than children in the control <it>Gots</it>, [OR = 0.75, (95%CI: 0.62, 0.85)].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The availability and utilization of LLITN was low in the study area. The prevalence of malaria and anaemia was high. Intervention strategies of malaria should focus on high risk population and vulnerable groups.</p

The effect of household heads training about the use of treated bed nets on the burden of malaria and anaemia in under-five children: a cluster randomized trial in Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLITN) have demonstrated a significant effect in reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality. However, barriers on the utilization of LLITN have hampered the desired outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of community empowerment on the burden of malaria and anaemia in under-five children in Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cluster randomized trial was done in 22 (11 intervention and 11 control) villages in south-west Ethiopia. The intervention consisted of tailored training of household heads about the proper use of LLITN and community network system. The burden of malaria and anaemia in under-five children was determined through mass blood investigation at baseline, six and 12 months of the project period. Cases of malaria and anaemia were treated based on the national protocol. The burden of malaria and anaemia between the intervention and control villages was compared using the complex logistic regression model by taking into account the clustering effect. Eight Focus group discussions were conducted to complement the quantitative findings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 2,105 household heads received the intervention and the prevalence of malaria and anaemia was assessed among 2410, 2037 and 2612 under-five children at baseline, six and 12 months of the project period respectively. During the high transmission/epidemic season, children in the intervention arm were less likely to have malaria as compared to children in the control arm (OR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.57). Symptomatic malaria also steadily declined in the intervention villages compared to the control villages in the follow up periods. Children in the intervention arm were less likely to be anaemic compared to those in the control arm both at the high (OR = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.71, 0.99)) and low (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.60, 0.89) transmission seasons.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Training of household heads on the utilization of LLITN significantly reduces the burden of malaria in under-five children. The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia in collaboration with other partners should design similar strategies in high-risk areas to control malaria in Ethiopia.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): <a href="http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12610000035022.aspx">ACTRN12610000035022</a></p

Ashesi’s 360 approach to the COVID-19 pandemic

Full versions of all four of the special issues are available, open-access through the CCEAM website – www.cceam.netFollowing the government directive to close schools in March 2020, a meeting of the academic leadership of Ashesi University devised a 360-degree response to the COVID-19 pandemic with decision making underpinned by simplicity and flexibility. The Admissions Department, supported by Student Life, led the evacuation and safe return home of all students, with students with challenging situations placed in homes the week of the announcement. Concurrently, the Academic Affairs team suspended all regular activities for two weeks, and with the assistance of the Operations and IT teams, developed the operational response plan, piloted the following week. Faculty and Academic Affairs stressed best practices, and in response to Student Life, emphasised the quality of instruction over quantity; rigour and higher-order thinking over the amount of learning. Pursuance of quality assurance was through weekly and clear master plans on teaching. Student Life, Admissions, and Academic Affairs used a devised student activity sheet to provide support to students to mitigate attrition, which was less than 0.2 per cent at the end of the semester. They regularly engaged students in virtual town hall meetings. Parents were included in students’ study needs and invited to visit classes. Vendors for the grounds, cafeteria, security and cleaning services have been supported during this period. Most faculty and students have begun to enjoy the online teaching and learning experience with no request for a tuition refund, but rather, high student demand for summer school.Ashesi Universit

Developing an innovative course in design and entrepreneurship for an African university

Sena Agbodjah and Anthony Ebow Spio are faculty of the Business Administration department of Ashesi University College. Theresa Dei Dzanie and Opheley Salihu were both staff of Ashesi.Developing the next generation of ethical entrepreneurial leaders, without exposing all students to formal training in entrepreneurship, was a shortfall at Ashesi University. With an existing capstone entrepreneurship option which ensures active, experiential and experimental pedagogical approach, Ashesi still saw it expedient to extend this opportunity to students of all majors. In 2013, the journey to start a course, that helped the University better achieve its mission, commenced at an Executive Committee meeting. Within a curriculum that was full, and overflowing with core and elective courses waiting to be deployed, a unified community of administrators, Heads of Departments and faculty, brainstormed how this can become a reality. This paper discuses the journey Ashesi took to arrive at what is currently running as Foundations of Design and Entrepreneurship (FDE), a maiden creative problem solving and basics of business course, heavily drawing on design thinking, design and entrepreneurship. The course was started in September 2015, after two years of planning and development. FDE seeks to inspire and equip all freshmen regardless of their majors, with foundational skills in entrepreneurship. Lessons this paper seeks to share include how a purposed institution can be innovative, the processes necessary for developing new programmes, and failure points to be mindful. This will inform peers and institutions who want to innovate entrepreneurial education in the country, by developing innovative courses to shape graduates ready to transform the continent, and represent Africa on the world platform.full-text is available at http://www.incedi.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DEVELOPING-AN-INNOVATIVE-COURSE-IN-DESIGN-AND-ENTREPRENEURSHIP-FOR-AN-AFRICAN-UNIVERSITY-AGYEPONG-S.A.-SPIO-A.E.-DZANIE-T.D.-SALIHU-O..pd