The University of Ghana School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) hosted a celebratory dinner and awards ceremony on Friday, December 15 in honour of outstanding students and faculty members for the 2022-2023 academic year.

On the euphoric evening filled with cheers and standing ovations, a total of about 40 awards were presented to students, staff, alumni and partner institutions in recognition of their excellent work and contributions to the SPMS.

Dean of the School, Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana said the event was in celebration of “advancements that the school has made over the years in the course of student training, research and extension services.”

For staff, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Enock Dankyi honoured with the “Distinguished Teacher” award for the night.

Prof. Kwaku Kyeremeh, also of the Chemistry Department, received two Distinguished awards in the “Resource Mobilisation” and “Researcher of the year” categories. On the other hand, Dr. Vincent Teyekpiti of the Department of Mathematics was awarded the “Promising Researcher”.

Awards were given to the Best Worker amongst both senior and junior staff of the SPMS.

For students, certificates were presented to the best in Level 300, Level 400, and MPhil Part II across all 6 Departments of the School.

Recipients of the Deans Special Awards included former Vice-Chancellor of the University, Emeritus Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, Associate Professor at Computer Science Department, Prof. Ferdinand Katsriku, Professor of Geology at the Department of. Earth Science, Prof. Bruce Kofi Banoeng-Yakubo, former Head of the Department of Geology, Prof. Thomas Mba Akabzaa, former Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. Daniel Kwadwo Asiedu and former Pro- Vice-Chancellor of the University, Emeritus Prof. Josef Kwaku Ametefee Amuzu.

Alumni of the 6 Departments under the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences also received prestigious awards.

External institutions including the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM), Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas), GCB Bank PLC and Chirano Gold Mines were presented with plaques in acknowledgment of their contribution to the burgeoning of the SPMS.

The Dean noted that in addition to acknowledging the works of their most hardworking students and staff, the School is taking pragmatic steps to ensure that the quality of training produced is retained for all students, continuing and prospective.

“We have set up an entrepreneurship and capacity building hub within the school,” he said. “In the coming semester, this will be rolled out forcefully; we will pair students – especially at the graduate level - with mentors who will nurture and assist them to develop their full potentials.”

Noting his belief in practical education rather than examining students based on theory examination, Prof. Yidana divulged the school’s ambition to “do more in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” to further the student experience and augment teaching and research in the SPMS.

“The way to train students is to let them appreciate the practical component of the course, in order to ensure that they are able to apply,” he said. “In all the major subject areas within the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, we are encouraging a practical-oriented mode of examination of students.”

The Dean says this innovation will focus on project assignments instead of traditional examination methods, underscoring the need to “upskill them with first-hand experience that will enable them to set up companies of their own in areas like computer, actuarial and earth sciences” in support of government and national development upon graduating.

He is optimistic that this will pique student interest in Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and propel them to international heights in the context of academic competition and employment.