Rospects and challenges of interdepartmental collaborations in running professional development programmes in KNUST

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2021-06-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The collaboration existing within the various departments in the University (KNUST) in the development of Professional development programmes is unsubstantial. The aim of this research is to examine the prospects and challenges of interdepartmental collaboration in running Professional Development Programmes (PDPs) in KNUST. The study reviewed pertinent literature and adopted a descriptive case study design. Purposive sampling was used to select four units namely Bureau of Integrated Rural Development, Department of Food Science, National Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and The Short Courses/Programmes Unit for the study. The data for the study was obtained from heads of the units using interviews. The study examined respondents’ characteristics, challenges of interdepartmental collaboration, benefits derived from interdepartmental collaboration in Professional Development Programmes and explored the factors that can influence a successful interdepartmental collaboration in professional development programmes in KNUST. The study found among other things that interdepartmental collaboration in the running of PDPs in KNUST is fraught with challenges such as lack of institutional support, lack of teamwork, ineffective collaborative efforts from other departments, selfishness of some departments and lack of understanding within departments in the University. It was found that the programmes come with benefits to the individuals involved in the facilitation of it, the departments that are engaged in it and the university at large. It was therefore strongly recommended that the university makes it a matter of policy for all departments to engage in the running of PDPs
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial engulfment of the Award of the Degree of Master Of Science.
Keywords
Rospects and challenges, interdepartmental collaborations, professional development programmes, KNUST
Citation