Faculty of Sciences consults with enterprises

Dschang,SIC/UDs.27/07/16. 

The Faculty of Sciences alongside enterprises are working on restructuring academic programmes to fit the professional needs of the society and the world organised througha a consultation workshop to run from the 27^th to the 28^th of July 2016 at the Amphitheatre 1000 of the University of Dschang. The first day of the occasion that started at 10.40 am was marked by the presence of the Vice Chancellor, the mayor of Dschang council, university dignitaries a host of different enterprises alongside maters and PhD students of the faculty. During the event, the president of the organizing committee, Prof Kuate Jules Roger stated that the initiative was at it 3^rd phase and was at the project action stage. The Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Prof Ngameni Emmanuel on his part lauded the Faculty for its academic performance over the years while encouraging the need to upgrade in training geared towards professionalization. He stated that this consultation forum with experts is aimed at better structuring academic programmes through laudable proposals which could make graduates potential market products and fit properly in the professional world of today. Prof Ngameni highlighted that the 1^st seminar on the issue took place in September 2015.

He noted that it involved curricular adjustments, human capital development, critical analysis of programmes in line with their weaknesses and strength, improve level of know-how among other positive outcomes. He enumerated some reasons for the poor performance of graduates in the professional world and attributed it to poor relations with the enterprise world and poor professional orientation at the faculties. Prof Ngameni, suggested among other solutions the improvement of academic programmes, fostering relations with the business world through cooperation and sensitization and development programmes to be submitted to business world among others. He invited experts to contribute with their knowledge in building human capacity to enhance development in all sectors.

 The VC, Prof Roger Tsafack Nanfosso in his opening speech thanked the Dean and Faculty of Sciences for the initiative and called on the experts to play their role of social responsibility and human capacity building. He emphasized that The University and the enterprises present had a key role of co-construction through the exchange of ideas, social intelligence in promulgating the concept of good governance initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education. The Vice Chancellor added that the platform will bring together students, staff and experts who will share their views on the programmes of the academic system (BMD). He called on other faculties to emulate the initiative so as to prepare graduates adaptable to the economic and social realities of the globe. Prof Roger Nanfosso outlined measures of attaining the objective of the workshop through proper synergy and articulation of the desired goals through the identification of jobs in the society, identify the expectations of the employers, innovative programmes to reinforce professionalism (approach by competence), encourage competitiveness and research, reinforce collaboration between UDs and the enterprises in research, bio development, technology transfer among other means. He was optimistic that the resolutions and results obtained during the 2 day workshop will add a value of excellence to the programmes hence capacity building for graduates of the University.

The launching ceremony ended with the presentation of the various enterprises present and an expose from the GICAM group on the expectations of Cameroonian graduates from Higher Institutions by enterprises by the representative of GICAM, Mr Vincent Kouete, a chief economist and former student of the University of Dschang.