The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, has successfully organised its Third Management Conversation from Thursday, 8th to Sunday, 11th January 2026, at the Maaha Beach Resort in the Western Region. The high-level retreat brought together senior management and key stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the University under the theme “Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Innovation, Sustainability, and Leadership in a Changing World.”
Key foci of the conversation were on institutional growth, leadership development, research excellence, student welfare, infrastructure development, and operational efficiency, with clear take-home messages outlined for implementation.
Opening the conversation, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Richard Amankwah reported significant progress over the past two years in expanding student enrolment and advancing technological initiatives. He indicated that five new undergraduate programmes such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Engineering, Cyber Security, Telecommunications Engineering, Spatial Planning, Transport Planning and Management, and Mathematics with Finance have been rolled out as part of efforts to modernise teaching and learning.
Participants commended the noticeable growth. However, they stressed the need for corresponding improvement in staffing and investment in equipping, retooling and maintaining laboratories to support the increasing student population.
Participants also underscored the importance of strengthening research output and improving the University’s global ranking. They benchmarked publishing in top-tier journals, aligning research with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and conducting research that addresses societal challenges as one of performance indicators of impactful research. Similarly. proposals were made by members on the need to enhance grantsmanship in the University. The Dean of the Office of Research Innovation and Consultancy, Professor Michael Affam stressed on the need to promote collaborative research. He called for the patenting of research outputs to support research commercialisation in the University. On the same subject, participants called for the establishment of additional research institutes to boost research productivity and institutional ranking.
Institutional governance and policy implementation featured prominently in the deliberations. Management outlined directives to strengthen policies and also highlighted the need to strengthen digitalisation of records in the University.
Financial management issues such as adherence to procurement thresholds, prudent cash advance management and improved audit compliance were also discussed as part of efforts to strengthen operational efficiency.
Teaching and learning and student welfare issues were also addressed, with emphasis placed on the equitable distribution of teaching load to promote staff wellbeing and productivity, and the need for improved maintenance systems and surveillance to create a safe and conducive learning environment for students. The conversation also highlighted the importance of multicultural integration and the strengthening of the immersion programme for international students to promote diversity and global visibility.
Members also pushed for sustainability initiatives such as renewable energy generation using existing infrastructure, digital transformation and proposed for the establishment of a STEM-focused secondary school as part of the University’s long-term development.
As part of the programme outlined, Dr Frank Boateng, Acting Director of the Institute of Mineral Resources Investment and Governance delivered a presentation on the theme “Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Innovation, Sustainability, and Leadership in a Changing World.” Dr Boateng underscored the critical role of influence, responsibility, and value creation in effective leadership. Participants were reminded that true leadership lies in empowering others to achieve great results. Dr Boateng advocated a shift towards reverse mentoring and multi-directional learning to promote knowledge sharing across all levels of the University.
The 3rd Management Conversation reaffirmed the University’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation and institutional strengthening. The outcomes are expected to guide policy implementation and strategic planning as the University continues to position itself as a leading mining, petroleum and technological institution.
