The Government plans to build five Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Universities in five of the country's newly established regions this year, according to Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, a Deputy Minister of Education.
In addition, ten STEM Senior High Schools (SHS) and academies are being built at the pre-tertiary level to build a viable and credible pipeline to achieve the country's strategic education goal.
At the investiture of Prof Eric Nyarko-Sampson as Vice-Chancellor and the induction of Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong as the Registrar of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) at Somanya in the Yilo krobo District of the Eastern Region, Rev Ntim Fodjour made the announcement.
By 2030, the government's strategic goal is to achieve a 60:40 science-humanities ratio, up from the present 40:60 in favor of humanity.
Rev Fordjour said that the university's plan to seek government financing to construct a STEM education center will be given prompt attention, in keeping with the country's growth and promotion of STEM education.
He challenged the university to perform ground-breaking research and strong technologies that would urge the world to look to UESD for answers for a better livable environment for mankind, given that it was founded during a time of global instability.
Professor Nyarko-Sampson and Mrs Agyepong were officially invested and admitted as Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of UESD, respectively.
The newly installed Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Nyarko-Sampson, reported that the university's student population increased from 77 in the 2020/2021 academic year to 269 in 2022.
He stated that three UESD researchers had won the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) - Call on Climate Change and Economic Development in Africa award, worth USD 15,000 to the institution.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson stated that the institution is awaiting a good answer from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a proposal for the creation of an Environmental Sciences Chair.
Prof Jonathan N Ayertey, the university's Chairman of the Governing Council, stated that despite the university's great achievements, it faced a number of issues that needed to be addressed immediately.
He cited the institution's issues as the lack of a university Basic School on campus, poor staff housing and hostel facilities, limited office spaces and amenities, and inadequate staff transportation.
Prof. Ayertey, as a result, appealed to the Minister of Education to assist in the construction of a university Basic School on campus for staff wards to alleviate the stress of employees bringing their children to school beyond the university's borders.
The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) was founded by an Act of Parliament, the UESD Act, 2015 (Act 898) on August 5, 2020, to provide higher education, disseminate knowledge related to environmental and agrobusiness development, conduct research, and foster relationships with people outside the institution.