PHOTO: ULIBAAA President, Saundra Berry Hall
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
The National President of the University of Liberia Alumni Association in the Americas (ULIBAAA), Saundra Berry Hall has spoken of the need for the departments and programs in the various colleges at the University of Liberia (UL) to be staffed with qualify staff.
Delivering the commencement address for the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, the William V.S. Tubman College of Education and the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College at the University of Liberia recently, Mrs. Hall said the University of Liberia relies on its colleges to serve as the crucibles for the preparation of students.
This is the only way they can acquire the requisite knowledge base and skills in the various disciplines that will earn them the critical positions as experts.
She said the College of Social Sciences and Humanities has the responsibility of preparing literary experts, historians, linguists, journalists, communication and media professionals, political scientists, and sociologists, among others. As for the William V.S. while the Tubman College of Education has the responsibility of training teachers who will be committed to teaching children at the primary, middle and secondary school levels.
In the case of the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College, the ULIBAAA’s head said it has the responsibility of preparing technicians in the areas of food production and technology as well as budding entrepreneurs who will establish their own businesses, and contribute to the socio-economic development of Liberia.
“President Nelson, graduates and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the pathway to success for these colleges as they perform their respective responsibilities of training and preparing students to make contributions to their various communities, including our country, Liberia, must be anchored on some major pillars. Let us examine a few:
“The departments and programs in the various colleges must be staffed with qualified staff: Individuals, who are trained in the various disciplines in which they are teaching.
In addition, each college in collaboration with the university’s leadership must have a faculty development program that is designed to assist current faculty members in pursuing further studies to acquire advanced degrees or to retool through taking refresher courses and attending conferences and workshops” she asserted.
She noted that the curricula in the various disciplines must reflect the breadth and depth of each discipline. In addition, she said the curricula must be reflective of new trends in both the various disciplines as well as the labor market.
Madam Hall continued that efforts must be made to acquire current textbooks and other instructional materials that are indispensable to the learning process indicating that effective learning cannot occur in the absence of those materials.
Similarly, she recommended that each college should undertake the efforts of establishing learning resource centers that will contain current academic literatures in the various disciplines.
These learning resource centers, accordding to her, should complement the university’s library system.
Furthermore, Mrs. Hall narrated that investments need to be made in the acquisition of state of the art technological tools, including computers and soft wares that will enable faculty members to teach effectively, and students to learn.
She also expressed the need for Students must be exposed to both research and experiential learning.
“In both cases, this will enable students to learn how to apply the knowledge that is gained in the classroom to concrete issues. In addition, both activities will also help to inform the refinement of the theoretical knowledge that is acquired in the classroom,” Mrs. Hall recounted.
At the same time, the ULIBAAA’s President has reminded the graduates that they have critical roles to play in ensuring the success of their respective academic journeys at the University of Liberia.
According to her, the primary responsibility for their academic training rests with them, hence, they must take ownership of the learning process by developing partnerships with their instructors within the context of learning communities in which there are shared responsibilities between faculty and students.
She added: “In other words, you cannot be an effective learner if you play the role of a detached observer, rather than an active and engaged learner”.
Saundra Berry Hall explained that the overall purpose of education is for an individual to acquire knowledge and skills stating that the students foremost concern should be about learning and knowing, rather than simply finding ways to pass tests and exams, in order to acquire degrees.
She recommended that the learning process should not be confined to the classroom and the assigned course materials, but instead, as students with the passion for learning, they must do extra readings and research to help enhance their knowledge base and skills sets thereby urging them to engage their instructors, classmates and others who are knowledgeable about their various disciplines, including practitioners, in discussions that are designed to enhance, enrich, and expand their knowledge and skills.
She told the students that central their education must be the acquisition of the major skills sets, including critical thinking, evidence-based analyses, and linking theory to practice and vice versa.
Saundra Berry Hall said the students must develop work ethic that is based on, among other things, doing their various assignments well and submitting them on time.
In conclusion, she urged the graduates to remember to thank the members of their families, instructors and others who helped them to successfully complete their academic journeys at the University of Liberia.
She reminded them that as they leave the University of Liberia, they will continue to experience both the inevitable challenges and opportunities that life brings to all, but encouraged them to embrace life challenges and learn from them.
The graduates were assured that the University of Liberia Alumni Association in the Americas of which she is the National President stands ready to partner with them and the University family, to help in any way possible, incorporating their skills, knowledge, expertise and resources, for them to move the University forward.
“So, go forth, members of the graduating classes of 2022, and contribute to the building of the pool of the new generation of Liberian experts,” she concluded.