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CHS Retreat

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organised a 4-day ‘Retreat and Advance Teaching and Learning for Senior Members of the College from 3rd to 6th October 2022 in Sunyani. The event which was held under the theme: ‘Quality Education: Implementing Integrated and Case-Based Learning’ sought to empower the administrative and academic staff of the College to develop and implement an Integrated and Case-Based Learning Approach into the curriculum in the various schools. 

In his opening remarks, the Provost, Professor Christian Agyare, noted that introducing this learning approach into the curriculum for the training of health professionals would bring about an improvement in the quality of patient care delivery in Ghana. He added that the main objective of the summit was to equip faculty members of the various disciplines with the requisite knowledge to be able to teach in an interactive manner that engages and stimulates students toward more active learning.  ‘We hope to enable faculty to integrate content within and across their disciplines as well as create exams that will challenge their students not only in terms of recall of factual knowledge but also in applying critical reasoning skills, he said.

Professor Agyare mentioned that implementing this module in the curriculum would allow students in the various health disciplines come together to solve a common practical problem. He therefore called on all members to work assiduously to achieving this goal.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo in his address, stressed the need for a problem-solving based curriculum for teaching and learning to influence the Sustainable Development growth of the Ghanaian economy.  According to him, a practical and problem-based curriculum for teaching would help to produce good and innovative students who are well-equipped to offer high-quality healthcare services for the nation, and significantly advance the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDGs).

Professor Owusu-Dabo also emphasised management’s commitment to exploring innovative approaches to teaching and learning.  ‘As Ghana's top science and technology university, we must design learning processes that are flexible, adaptable, and creative to ensure that we perform to the best of our abilities’, he explained.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor believes that a student-centered learning approach is a solution that will transform the next generation student, thus lauded the initiative.

The retreat centered on a variety of learning activities, with emphasis on active learning, use of cases, and interdisciplinary integration. Writing excellent multiple-choice questions, particularly using clinical cases/lab scenarios/real world scenarios for both clinical and non-clinical courses; creating SMART objectives and using them to communicate course content to students as well as to create exam content. Samples of the materials used at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) also were included in the interactive sessions, including cases, PowerPoint slides, multiple-choice exam questions, etc

A team from MSM in the US led by Professor Alexander Quashie, Professor Janice Herbert-Carter and Professor Jonathan K. Stiles introduced to participants the Integrated and Case-Based Learning approach. They highlighted the differences between Problem-based and Team-based learning and further pledged their support for the successful implementation of the initiative.

Mr. ‘Dotun Osiyemi, Principal Consultant and CEO, Doterrys Consulting Limited also facilitated series of sessions for both administrative and academic staff of the College. He took the participants through “Delivery Superior Customer Service and Team Building Skills”; “Personal Financial Planning Principles and Stress Management – Coping Well with Life”; Effective Time Management Principles”; Achieving Peak Performance Attributes of Outstanding Employees; “Leadership and Strategic Thinking Skills’’.

In a session dubbed, ‘Time with the Registrar’ Mr. Richard Appiah-Nkyi, the College Registrar presented on “Applying and Packaging Papers in Camera-Readiness for Assessment and Promotion”. He disclosed the importance of a well packaged camera-ready paper for an applicant seeking for promotion. He urged young/early career researchers to seek guidance when faced with challenges as regards publications of their research papers for assessment.

Mr. Michael Sakyi Boateng, the college Librarian and Dr. Charles Nsiah, the Deputy Finance Officer also took the participants through “Verification of Publication Sources” and “Tax Basics” respectively.

In his presentation on Inter-Professional Education (IPE), Former provost and facilitator, Professor Yaw Adu-Sarkodie explained IPE as a process where individuals from different health profession interact together rather than deliver their service in silos.  He stated that implementing this will also see the collaboration not only among students but faculty members, as well.

He further hinted that the IPE, when implemented will become part of the graduation requirement and thus will carry credit.

The 4-day retreat was crowned with a dinner dance and moments for participants to unwind. Professor Kwame Ohene Buabeng, the Head of Pharmacy Practice Department commended the oagnisers of the retreat for the well planned sessions and warm reception. He further highlighted that the facilitators were engaging and made great presentations.