Quality Assurance and Internationalization in a Private University College

This study examined quality assurance practice and internationalization in a private university College (Wisconsin International University College, WIUC) with the intention of improving teaching and learning especially for international students.  A descriptive design of cross-sectional nature was used. It explored from the views of respondents important issues that constitute learning satisfaction and ways to enhance effective teaching and learning especially for students.  One hundred (100) respondents who are international students completed the questionnaire.  Students viewed external and internal audits by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and Quality Assurance and Institutional Relations Unit (QAIRU) of the WIUC respectively as essential to enhance quality. On student’s evaluation of lecturers, respondents agreed that appropriate feedback following evaluation is essential to facilitate student participation in future events. To assure quality and improve teaching and learning in the University College, respondents agreed that full engagement of students through the amount of time and effort put into teaching, learning and assessment as well as the commitment of more institutional resources, curricula and other learning opportunities are important to promote experiences that lead to more learning, satisfaction and successful graduation. Key Words: Quality assurance, accreditation, institutional, assessment, satisfactio

Effect of Education and Social Factors on Hygiene and Prevention Behavior of Women in Ghana

Women’s hygiene and prevention behavior was analyzed using the 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) couple’s dataset.  Effects of education, residence, lineage, self-determination and social support networks were examined. Results revealed a consistent positive educational effect on hygiene and prevention behaviors.  Urban living provided consistent positive results for hygiene and malaria prevention but did not significantly improve responsible sexual behavior. There were mixed results for matriliny. There was evidence that the self determination and social support variables added explanatory power in the models.  For malaria prevention, these variables added explanatory power but did not mediate any effects of education, residence, or lineage.  With hygiene behavior the, self determination and support network variables explained additional variance and mediated some of the effects of the demographic variables. Keywords: Education, Residence, Self-Determination, Lineage, Social Supports

Barriers to Internal Quality Assurance in Ghanaian Private Tertiary Institutions

This study examines the understanding of the national quality assurance system and existing barriers to the implementation of internal quality assurance in some Private Tertiary Institutions in Ghana.  Academic, administrative staff and students from the private institutions completed a set of questionnaires that tapped their perceptions on issues causing implementation barriers to internal quality assurance. Quality management decisions emerged as a major barrier to the implementation of internal quality assurance, especially the failure to link identification of quality objectives to the institutional strategic plan. Student involvement, lack of effective coordination, weaker emphasis on strategic planning and quality management as well as dominance culture not opened to change and improvement were barriers that adversely affected the implementation of internal quality assurance.  The study concludes that transparency, openness, responsiveness and creativity should form the basis of the ideal culture for quality improvement in private higher education institutions. Key words: Internal Quality Assurance, Accreditation, Implementatio

Class Communication Tools in a Blended Graduate Course

The study presents a research carried out at the School of Continuing and Distance Education at the University of Ghana during the second semester of the 2015-2016 academic year. The research was carried out over a period of sixteen weeks from August to November 2015 for a course DEEL 612 taught at the graduate level. The study involved 11 graduate students who were studying for a Master’s Degree delivered in a blended mode. An in-depth telephone interview of the eleven students conducted by a trained and experienced interviewer was carried out. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Results show that, respondents studying online enjoyed equality in the ability to share thoughts and ideas. They found studying online with the use of the Sakai LMS to be useful, flexible and convenient. Respondents in the study affirmed that, Sakai LMS enhanced interactivity with peers and the instructor in ways that supported trusted relationship building. This helped learning to take place, made it of fun and innovative. Keywords: Blended mode, online, Sakai LMS, interactivity, student learning DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-13-10 Publication date:May 31st 202

The Role of Education, Religion and Politics in Resolving the Dilemma of the Modern African State

The cultural practices and value system of the African has helped maintain peaceful co-existence among various tribes thereby holding the nations together in one piece. A nation of twenty-four million people as is Ghana and over seventy different languages and so many different ethnic groups would have disintegrated as is the case with some other countries of the world had it not been for the heritage that was passed on from the ancestors. The sustainability of this peace and tranquility is all threatened in the modern state that is poised to move away from the culture and value system of old. The advent of politics of insults is a good testament to this. Resolving the dilemma of the modern state is about how to bring modern educational systems and philosophies to bear with the indigenous value system in such a way that restores harmony, trust and peaceful co-existence among various socio-cultural, religious and ethnic dimensions in the country. This paper was born out of a focus group discussion of a team comprising politicians, people of faith, policy makers, teachers and learners. Issues pertinent to the resolution of the dilemma of the modern state discussed emphasized the roles of education, religion, politics, and policy making. Discussants agreed that the time is right for such discussions and pointed out that resolving the dilemma would mean how best to interface the difference between education, religion, politics and policy making, education providers and learners. Keywords: Education, dilemma, religion, politics, modern stat

Influence of Risk Management Practices on Service Quality in Health Care Delivery

The paper examined impact of risk management practices on service quality in healthcare provision in the Accra metropolis and compared analysis between private and public hospitals. Seven items relating to risk management practices for hospital staff were presented with responses based on a five point Likert Scale; ranging from strongly agree , agree, uncertain, disagree and strongly disagree. Questions tapping respondents’ feedback on expectations and experience of service provided were asked to patients in health facilities. Results of the study revealed that, private hospitals implemented more risk management practices and this positively impacted on their service quality from both the staff and patients’ perspectives. Public hospitals did not effectively practice risk management which showed up negatively on service quality performance from patients’ perspectives. The study shows that, management support and commitment is very important to all risk management strategies and managers in public health should commit more organizational resources toward the effective implementation of quality improvement initiatives.

Accessibility Considerations for e Learning in Ghana

This paper reports on a study that explored the best ways to design e learning in order to provide better access for adult learners with disabilities. Two districts from the Central Region of Ghana were selected and two major research questions guided the study. The five-point Likert scale was employed between May and August of 2014. The two questions asked were: The kind of issues that should be taken into account in the design and management of accessible e learning? And what problems need be resolved to have accessibility solutions for e-learning by the diverse adult learner population in the region? The results confirm existing insights about accessibility considerations in Ghana, other African countries and the world at large for the disabled, showing that Ghana and other African countries are not unique in terms of accessibility requirements in designing e learning in order to provide better access for adult learners with disabilities

Adults Pursuing E-Learning in Ghana – Opportunities, Challenges and Expectations

It has been said that the debate over effectiveness of learning online has ended and that several large-scale studies are reporting better learning outcomes for online learning than for some face-to-face courses. In the Central Region of Ghana, a study was carried out to explore opportunities, challenges and expectations confronting adults who learn online. Adult learners’ completed a survey modeled on a five-point Likert scale. One hundred and fifty respondents from two districts completed the survey. Respondents perceived their greatest opportunity to be earning a degree online while maintaining their job. Their greatest challenge was with interactivity. Respondents expected information in online courses to be communicated clearly and also be provided with feedback on their progress

Assessing Educational Needs of Workers on Effective Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Management System in Ghana's Oil Retail Industry

The study examined the knowledge of workers in ten Ghanaian indigenous and multinational oil marketing companies and assessed educational needs of workers to understand how the  implementation of the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Management System would help in promoting health, safety, environment and quality culture in Ghana’s oil retail industry. A semi-structured interview for management staff, managers, dealers as well as forecourt attendants of retail sites was used. The study revealed that, multinational oil marketing companies implemented HSEQ management systems in their quest to strengthen the safety culture of their companies whereas the indigenous oil companies saw implementation of such HSEQ management system as an additional overhead cost. Moreover, their approaches to achieve safety culture were deficient and failed to embrace holistic approach relying on interventions that lacked effective communication between major partners and stakeholders. The need for companies to formally communicate a procedure for the management of workers compensation claims to all employees prior to engagement and provide HSEQ training programme for supervisory personnel, educating subcontractors about HSEQ policies and procedures was expressed. Educational needs were also expressed for skills to investigate HSEQ incidents and ability to write reports and develop written action plans for prevention of similar incidents in future.

A Comparison of “Well Endowed” and “Deprived” Districts in Education Delivery in Ghana

The Pilot Programmatic Scheme (PPS) of the World Bank was brought on board by the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Education to provide assistance to deprived districts to enable them fast track the achievement of performance indicators in education delivery. Using the analysis of variance technique, the growth rate performance in primary gross enrolment rates of schools located in deprived and endowed districts that were randomly sampled were compared. Results revealed that both deprived and endowed districts experienced similar average growth rates in primary gross enrolment. The analysis of variance showed that, performance over the period 2007 – 2010 between deprived and endowed districts considered were not significantly different. Results imply that the PPS has worked for selected areas. It is recommended for more support and widespread capacity strengthening for all District Education Directorates to enable Ghana meet the International Commitments in the MDGs enshrined in the Education Strategic Plan and Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy