New Vice-Chancellor for SDD–UBIDS Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile promises to tackle infrastructure challenges

The newly invested Vice-Chancellor of the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD–UBIDS), Prof. Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, has outlined his vision for the University as he seeks to employ an innovative and integrated approach to management in higher education that combines learning, adaptation and entrepreneurship for innovation in governance.

He said that given the complexities that universities face in contemporary times, no single model for the management of universities is sufficient for enhancing their sustainability.

In his first public address shortly after his investiture as the Vice-Chancellor of the University in Wa Upper West Region, Prof. E.K. Derbile said “I take the stance that integrating useful elements of the concepts of a learning university, an adaptive university and an entrepreneurial university is an imperative for steering our young University towards achieving growth, impact and sustainability”.

Prof. E.K. Derbile added that as a new University, strategic expansion is critical for developing competencies in niche areas of academic programming at all levels, especially in postgraduate training for addressing skill gaps in industry and for responding to the research-intensive mandate of the University.

This, according to him, will require the establishment of new and appropriate faculties, schools and departments.

“One of the biggest challenges of the University is the huge infrastructure deficit arising from funding challenges. I seek to bridge this infrastructure gap by exploring different funding options and innovations, advocacy for public funding and completion of GETFUND projects; application of Internally Generated Fund (IGF), and promoting public-private partnership for infrastructure development”, he stated.

The Vice-Chancellor announced that in the medium to long term, he will work towards seeking approval from GTEC for academic programming in the natural and health sciences through the introduction of the faculty of Extraction Sciences and a School of Medical Sciences (SMS).

“I believe that such growth will increase the diversity of academic programmes, increase student enrolment and support the cause for national development,” Professor E.K. Derbile stated.

Prof. Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, who is a professor of Development Planning, and a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of SDD-UBIDS, has over 24 years work experience in academia, rising through various academic ranks in the university system from 1999 till his current state.

He assumed office on May 1, 2024 becoming the second Vice-Chancellor of the University after he took over from Professor Philip Duku Osei, the first Vice-Chancellor in 2020 following his imminent retirement from the University’s service after attaining 60 years.

Originally one of the three satellite campuses of the University for Development Studies (UDS), the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD–UBIDS) was created as an independent institution established in 2019 through an Act of Parliament (Act 1001), it was officially gazetted in May 2020, with its main Campus located in Bamahu, a suburb of Wa in the Upper West Region.

Source:onuaonline.com