The University for Development Studies (UDS) has introduced a new system for the training of doctors at its School of Medical Health Sciences. Known as "problem-based learning", the system is designed to ensure more interactive teaching and expose medical students to rural communities and the peculiar problems those communities face. The acting Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Prof Kaku Sagary-Nokoe, who announced this said the new programme would involve several district hospitals and their medical consultants. He said it would soon be implemented fully in all the catchment regions of the university, namely Northern, Brong Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West. Prof Sagary-Nokoe who was addressing the 15th matriculation ceremony of the university in Wa, said the introduction of new courses at the university would place the UDS higher on the ladder of relevant and community-oriented tertiary education in the country. Touching on the development of infrastructure on the various campuses of the UDS, the acting Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to the government and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their support. He pointed out that through the support from the government and the GETFund, a 500 seater auditorium and two hostels had been completed and were in "use at the permanent site of the Wa Campus. Prof Sagary-Nokoe said three other hostels and an additional lecture hall would be completed by November this year with the Tamale and Nyankpala campuses also receiving similar developments. On admissions, Prof Sagary-Nokoe said a total of 6,396 applications were received for various programmes this academic year and that out of that 5,199 qualified to be offered admission, but only 4,051 were successful. That, according to the acting Vice-Chancellor represented a 50 per cent increase over admissions for last year. ''This brings the UDS population from 6,520 in 2006/2007 to over 8,500 this academic year," he noted, saying that last academic year eight students were dismissed from the university for various offences. He was also happy with the increase in the number of mature students at the UDS and said they had comported themselves very well, even in the face of the challenging campus conditions. For his part, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr George Hickah Benso said that the development of formal education at all levels was critical to the success of the new educational reform. Source: Daily Graphic