The Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (FIDS) of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Abraham Berinyu, has called for a rigorous approach in the improvement of facilities of the university, particularly the Wa Campus. That, he noted, would enhance the quality of programmes offered by the university. Addressing the 18th matriculation ceremony of the Wa Campus of the UDS at Wa in the Upper West Region, Professor Berinyu stressed the need for an urgent look at the provision of residential accommodation for both lecturers and students. He further mentioned in particular the exploitation by landlords in the Wa municipality who charged both lecturers and students astronomical rates and called on the government to assist the school. "The government through the appropriate institutions must ensure that both staff and students of this university are not exploited, especially by landlords who charge exhorbitant rents because staff and students are in dire need of accommodation", he emphasized. Professor Berinyu also appealed for more resources to be allocated to the university. In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakubu, paid tribute to his predecessors and stated his vision for the institution. "My vision for this university is to provide continuing leadership in the areas already developed and to further develop the university into a practically oriented institution which is international-recognized for academic excellence and community development", the Vice Chancellor indicated. In the area of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) development, Professor Yakubu gave the assurance that the university was developing an ICT policy and robust programme aimed at making the entire university community ICT compliant. Out of a total of 16,025 applications received by the university, only 14, 526 applicants were admitted to pursue both degree and diploma programmes. He said a deliberate strategy had been adopted by the university to ensure an increase in the admission of more female applicants and those from deprived communities in the three northern regions, especially for the medical programmes. He mentioned some of the new programmes introduced at the Wa Campus of the university as Bachelor of Education and BA in Integrated Management and Business Studies. On the graduate programmes, the Vice Chancellor said MSc in Leadership and Development, MSc in Business Finance, as well as MSc and MPhil in Community Health and Development had also been introduced this year. Source: Daily Graphic