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| University of Bamenda HITL workshop |
By Bakah Derick
Evaluating
the programme of the University of Bamenda’s Higher Institute of Transport and
Logistics HITL was the focus of a two day seminar in the university campus
February 18 and 19, 2016.
The
evaluation seminar which combined both internal and external evaluator as a
long-time tradition in new Universities or Institutes provided an opportunity
for The Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda UBa and her immediate
collaborators accompanied by Staff of HITL, students and some experts from the
corporate world to examine the programme of the two years old institute.
Justifying
why the seminar in a welcome remark, Prof Teguia Alexis Director of the
Institute explained that “in keeping with the spirit and recommendation of
different Seminars and comments from our partners who received our students on
internship, we have therefore invited you all to help us sharpen and refine the
present programmes of HITL so that at the end, we would be certain that our
products meet the demands of the employment market in line with the new
orientation of professional training as initiated by the Ministry of Higher
Education.”
The
programmes being used now he noted were the fallouts of two earlier workshops
organised by UBa in Douala involving several experts from the corporate world
of Transport and the academia and another with authorities of the Ministry of
Transport in Yaounde.
“With
the challenge of training students readily operational upon graduation, it
clearly appeared to us from the beginning of this marvellous adventure that
HITL must be creative and innovative by developing a new vision of professional
training really linking theory to practical knowledge.” Prof Teguia Alexis
said.
Prof
Akenji Theresia Vice Chancellor of UBa on her part while addressing the seminar
participants noted that with her University’s goal being “to achieve world
class excellence.” It was necessary to apply best practices and align with the
constantly changing trends in the world and thus the need to anticipate and
initiate change to permit UBa graduates to complete successfully in the job market.
With
Customs added to the three initial programmes of HITL, Tafili Ebenezer Head of
International Co-operation Unit Cameroon Customs with the first seminar
presentation on “the role of Customs Brokers; Cameroon perspectives” harped on
the core values of the Cameroon Custom being transparency, professionalism and
efficiency. He used the presentation to establish that students training in the
area can be carried of government’s intention to guarantee them some avenues
for gainful employment.
Visiting
during day two of the workshop Prof Mefire Oumarou of the University of Yaounde
II who doubles as Minister Delegate in the Ministry of transport with a video
presentation on the “activities in Cameroon sea ports; strengths and weakness
for emergence” encouraged the students to take studies seriously as upon
graduation they will be competent to work anywhere in the growing yet
complicated transport sector.
The
seminar participants ended the workshop with several recommendations on
teaching and learning, service to society as well research all geared towards
adapting the programmes to the job market.
Created
by a presidential decree in March of 2011, HITL went functional in 2014 with
three departments that is; Land Transport, Maritime Transport and Transit and
Logistics. Of recent Customs has been added making it four. The institute has a
total enrolment of 274 students training to be experts with a professional
Bachelors degree in the chosen area of study.