By Dauda Musa Bangura
On 26th February 2020 the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the University of Sierra Leone ended a one day intensive Training of Trainers (ToTs) for over 40 senior cadres of the University of Sierra Leone at IPAM campus in Freetown on Quality Management Systems.
The training brought together Deans of different faculties, senior lecturers and administrative staffs from Fourah Bay Collage, COMAHS and the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) as well as other partners and it was based on Quality Management Systems in Sierra Leone.
Giving the oversight of the training, David Gbao, the Director, Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance/Project Coordinator- University of Sierra Leone expressed the view that the project aims at building QMS capacity in Sierra Leone and involves developing a QMS curriculum to be delivered by the University of Sierra Leone further stating which is why they carefully selected lecturers who will progress to the QMS certification training and serve as tutors in sync with few administrative and postgraduate staff to support the project.
“The programme is part of UNIDO’s efforts geared towards increasing Sierra Leone’s competitiveness through enhanced productivity and trade compliance in selected value chains,” Mr. Gbao noted.
Welcoming participants from the three institutions, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of IPAM, Prof. S E Nonie highlighted that Sierra Leone has little to show when it comes to quality management systems which is why they are appreciative of the support from UNIDO to empower the University with trainings and skills to ensure quality is maintained in Sierra Leone.
The Professor called on participants to take the training very serious as they are going to serve as Ambassadors in Quality Management Systems.
He pointed out that last year they held the first session on Quality Assurance and Management underscoring how it was a starting point. He requested for salient points to be included in the operation of standards in our daily activities.
Dr. Thomas B. R. Yormah, Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau revealed to participants that his institution was established to ensure that quality and standards are maintained. He said without proper monitoring of standards the country will face a lot of issues impinging negatively on health. “We are working assiduously with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization which deals with standards and procedures in ensuring that good standards are enhanced,” he informed furthering how he promised to work and support the University of Sierra Leone to maintain standards.
Dr. Nigel H. Croft, UNIDO Consultant for the QMS ToT from UK delivered different presentations ranging from the background and concept of quality management system to the ISO 9000:2015 in providing the fundamental basis for quality management systems.
The British ISO expert on the second part of his presentation was able to give a clearer and detailed insight on ISO 9001 and the requirement standards citing processes that are risk-based focused further captivating the participants by the Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) concept.
Finally, Dr. Croft expanded on the topic: “Looking Beyond ISO 9001 towards ISO 904 and the Broad Quality for Organisational Effectiveness and Efficiency” pointing out reasons why Sierra Leone must embrace quality management.
Participants expressed their profound thanks and appreciation to UNIDO and the Directorate of Quality Assurance for organising such a wonderful training exercise.
One of the beneficiaries, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, the Dean of Faculty, Senior Lecturer and Head of Biochemistry Department at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences-USL expressed happiness for being part of the QMS Training of Trainers (ToT) stating that it was timely and prudent for the University of Sierra Leone to host it. “We have to ensure that whatever we are doing we do that with the Quality Management lens,” she averred.
The Young Dean further noted that “We have to be mindful that as academic institutions we are training the future leaders of our nation and so we must take to account quality.”
The Deputy Registrar of the University of Sierra Leone, David Condor Brima revealed that as a new department they need people with such knowledge to help train staff from the University. He said the training is beyond the training session to how participants can impact other sectors in the society.
Alpha Kanu, an Assistant Researcher at IPAM stated that the training is beyond description because the various topics where well handled by the UNIDO QMS specialist and called for more of this type of training in order to continue to improve the quality of standards within the University.
