By Charles Gbayor In Harper, Maryland County
“Mismanagement is not good for institutions that depend on funding from Government [of Liberia], and even other organizations.”
Those were the words of Dr. S. Benson Barh, Vice President and Dean of the College of Health and Sciences at the Tubman University (TU) in Harper, Maryland County. The University is the second tertiary public institution of higher learning in Liberia.
Dr. Barh presented one of two major topics at a capacity building workshop that included “What Is TU and Resources and Their Management…”
According to Dr. Barh, Tubman University is a government institution that is funded with tax payers’ money and is providing valuable education in the South-eastern region of the County. He is urging transparency and proper management of public funds.
Dr. Barh said, “…we have to support government in all ways to achieve its goals…” He noted that managers of public institutions are stewards who should properly manage the properties and resources of the TU.
The William V.S. Tubman University’s day long capacity building workshop brought together 50 people from the administrative division. Some of the administrative issues deliberated were management, financial management process, human resource and procurement processes and strategies for internal revenue generation.
One of the challenges that the TU faces is the rapid staff turnover over the last two years. University leaders say it has become imperative to conduct the workshop to streamline the role of the various departments to achieve and maintain quality and excellence in the teaching area.
All departments of the University have been urged to take responsibility and ensure that the TU achieves its educational goals. “If they can’t manage Tubman University for the Government then they are not steward…”
The workshop was held at the Saint James Episcopal Church in Hoffman Station community in Harper. The program brought together employees from various sectors within the Administration of the University.
The objectives of the day-long training were to underscore the supportive role of the administration in the resource management to achieve the goals of the institution, to equip the senior and middle level managers at TU in the application of the role goal and models for enchantment of quality and excellence in the teaching-learning experience.
The goal is also to get a clear understanding of the financial management, procurement and human resource management process at the institution and to identify and prioritize internal generation at TU.
