STAFFING ------------------------
The academic staff strength of the department currently stands at eleven (11) with the following breakdown. Four (4) MSc. holders, one (1) MPhil. holder, five (5) BSc. holders and one (1) HND holder.
In addition to this staff muscle, the department has one (1) administrative assistant and four (4) National Service Personnel on teaching assistantship.
At the moment, three of the staff members are on study leave in the United Kingdom studying at separate universities. With the capacity building policy of the institution, two members of staff who were on sandwich programmes at the University of Cape Coast have successfully completed their respective programmes, and were awarded with their certificates this March.
PROGRAMMES/COURSES -------------
The department offers/runs only a three (3) year programme leading to the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Statistics. The department also mounts service courses in Mathematics and Statistics to almost all departments in the Polytechnic in both HND and Non HND Programmes.
STUDENT ENROLMENT ----------------
The academic year under review recorded the lowest intake of students in the last couple of years. This notwithstanding, student population has risen considerably over the years from an initial intake of eleven (11) students. Currently, the student population in the Department stands at one hundred and sixty-two (162), a decrease of 26% over the last years’ with only twenty (20) of them being females. The females make up just 12.7% of the total student population.
This figure is still not encouraging, considering the fact that Science and Maths clinics are organised Nation-wide in an attempt to attract more girls to pursue courses in the Sciences. Besides, the Department has been making tremendous efforts to increase the number of female intake but there has been only about 8% increase over the last couple of years.
It is the hope of the Department to explore newer and more innovative methods in attracting more female students. The strict admission requirements and procedures adopted throughout the years have enabled the Department to admit only qualified people who applied for the HND Statistics programme.
RESEARCH --------------------------
- Management Development and Productivity Institute
The department in conjunction with the above-mentioned institution, which is one of the agencies under the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, is embarking on a national productivity attitude survey to find out the perception of Ghanaians on productivity, improvement strategies and activities.
- Others
With the help of lecturers, students have been undertaking various researches into almost every facet of human endeavour, using Mathematical and Statistical models for individuals and other affiliates. This enables students to fulfill part of the requirements for the award of the HND certificate.
LINKAGES -------------------------------
The department maintains links with sister departments in the country’s Polytechnics. Exchange programmes are currently being sought from affiliate institutions and Faculties/Departments from North America and the Scandinavia for sandwich programmes and other areas of cooperation for submission.
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ------
The Department in the conjunction with the Ghana Association of Statistics Students (Accra Polytechnic Chapter) organized a series of Seminars on the Role of the Statistician in National Development for some selected Senior Secondary Schools in the country.
INCOME GENERATION ----------------
Currently, the department has no income generating activity. However, the computer centre which is a unit within the department has been organizing courses in computer to students, lecturers and the general public. Efforts are also being made to introduce a Certificate course in Information Technology and a Part-time programme in HND Business Statistics on commercial basis.
FUTURE PLANS -------------------------
The department is planning to increase its student/lecturer ratio to an appreciable level. This means that increment in student intake would be backed by a corresponding increment in staffing position. Preparatory work is also under way to introduce the B. TECH programme in Statistics hopefully in the 2005/2006 academic year. Efforts are also being made to introduce a Certificate course in Information Technology and a Part-time programme in HND. |
