The Pro Vice Chancellor of Takoradi Technical University, Prof. Victor Kweku Bondzie Micah, has conscientised National Service personnel to be diligent in their assigned responsibilities to assist the University achieve its vision.
Prof. Micah who was speaking at a-day’s Orientation for 158 National Service Personnel at the University advised the Service Personnel to be mindful at all times that there exist numerous opportunities if they carry out their duties with seriousness. He therefore urged them to embrace diligence in their responsibilities.
“We should be guided by the practice of diligence in all what we do as our responsibility towards the achievement of the University’s vision. What we practice is what we reap” he said.
The Pro Vice Chancellor, further speaking on the Topic; “The Structure of the University and Channels of Communication”, indicated that TTU has a structure on how communication and reporting takes place in the University, and therefore asked Service Personnel to respect the structure.
“We want you to know that in this University, if you’re at a Department and there are problems in that Department, you don’t discuss or seek redress in another Department. You use the laid down reporting structure through your Department Head as it is supposed to be. Where people bypass these reporting structures, it creates problem for us…Learn to use the structures and it is only when they are not working that you can jump the structure to me or registrar…Getting to know the University’s structure helps you to align yourself with the University and where it is going”, he advised.
Prof. Micah added that the University wants to maintain a certain image out there, which is driven by strategic policies of the University, therefore encouraged Service Personnel to acquaint themselves with policies including the Health, Examination, Security among others.
“We have a lot of policies in the University and the ones that concern you, you have to get to know them to help with your stay here and vision” he advised.
On research, he urged the Service Personnel to consider doing research whiles in the University as there are opportunities with it.
Registrar of TTU, Dr. Moses Maclean Abnory in a presentation on the “Role of Service Personnel”, stated that the rationale for National Service Scheme is largely to augment the existing labour force and help institutions achieve their mandate. He therefore called on them to be responsible with logistics and gadgets put under their care.
“There are equipment and logistics provided in the various offices you find yourself. We expect personnel to help us keep them well”, he noted.
Dr. Abnory also touching on the subject of enhancing the image of Takoradi Technical University, challenged the 2025 National Service Personnel to ensure their dealings with the University’s publics do not compromise the hard earned image of the University.
“Beyond the students and staff, we also deal with other stakeholders in the community, hence when you find yourself in a position to deal with our external publics, do well to keep our image in a positive light”, he mentioned.
He also urged them to know their limit whether as Teaching Assistants or office workers in order not to create problems for themselves and the University.
“Eschew over exuberance and stay within your limit”, he cautioned.
On the subject of confidentiality, the Registrar advised the Service Personnel to learn to keep information they come across in their line of duties and not compromise information not meant to be made public.
On his part, the Head of the Directorate of Human Resource of TTU, Nana Kenneth Boateng, took the service personnel through time management and its importance, saying time management help us to maximise our time use and its benefits.
“Effective time management starts with well-thought-out plan…You must identify your peak performance time so you know when appropriate to do the tasks that seem challenging and time bound.”, he pointed out.
While highlighting what he termed as the four Ds of time management, Nana Boateng said there is the need for personnel to know when to Do, Delay, Delegate or Drop an action or an activity to be effective.
“If you don’t consider planning of time, it can affect your deliverability, relationships and make you miss a business opportunity. Bad planning can also affect your health”, he said.
He also advised against coming to work but doing nothing as well as unproductive relationships that affected time spent on unproductive things.
“There are people who take numerous calls when working which affects their productivity”, he cited.
A Deputy Registrar In-charge of the Registrar’s Secretariat, Jonathan Cudjoe, also in a presentation on TTU’s Work Culture advocated the need for Service Personnel to abreast themselves with the University’s work culture.
“to achieve the University’s goals and objectives call for all to understand the work culture and its vision. The University’s vision is to become a world-class Technical University recognised for excellence, innovation and societal relevance. Knowing this vision and the work culture would help to guide the attainment of the University’s overall vision”, he said.
He explained what then the work culture of TTU is.
“The work culture calls for teamwork and collegiality that will help us to achieve the University’s vision. So it is important to work as a team and not alone towards the attainment of the goal of the University”, he explained.
He also advised personnel to do well to help achieve TTU’s goals, by committing every effort to reduce mistakes to achieve the excellence that the University want.
Critical among the work culture of TTU is the University’s commitment to achieving an inclusive academic community; hence the Deputy Registrar challenged the Service Personnel to embrace diversity.
Jonathan Cudjoe also raised the issue of punctuality, especially lateness and the need to seek permission where necessary.
“You cannot stay out of work without permission, so there is the need to obtain approval from your immediate supervisor when one has to be absent or leave before closing”, he pointed out.
He ended his presentation with a call for respect of the Code of Ethics of the University, to enable them prevent any breaches of it.
Head of the Directorate of Academic Affairs, Dr. Philomena Aboagye, adding her voice to the subject of attitude, noted that “an attitude is not taught in the class hence personnel must learn to develop good attitudes”.
The orientation which started with their introduction to the University’s Anthem, ended with an open forum where service personnel had the opportunity to ask questions for clarity on how they can peacefully and productively stay throughout their service period.
