The University for Development Studies,Tamale was established in 1992 as a multi-campus institution. It is the fifth public university to be established in Ghana. This deviates from the usual practice of having universities with central campuses and administrations. It was created with the four northern regions of the country in mind. These are the Brong Ahafo Region, Northern Region, Upper East Region and the Upper West Region.
History
The University for Development Studies (UDS) is a public university located in Tamale, in the Northern Region of Ghana.[4] It consistently ranks as one of the top four universities in the country.[5][6][7] Established in 1992 by the Government of Ghana, its purpose is to accelerate the development of Ghana's north, and the broader nation.[8] The legislative instrument that founded the university is PNDC Law 279, which was gazetted on May 15, 1992. UDS is the fifth public university established by the Government of Ghana.[9][10] The university has two main campuses: Nyankpala and Dungu in Tamale.
The university incorporates the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP) into its curriculum for first and second-year students.[11] This program provides students with practical exposure to real-world development challenges within communities, fostering problem-solving skills.[12] UDS students annually spend about two months residing in communities, actively engaging in hands-on experiences that contribute to a nuanced understanding of applied knowledge and the development of innovative solutions.[13] This aspect sets UDS apart within the Ghanaian academic landscape, promoting a distinctive approach to development studies.[14]
Campuses
Tamale Campus
The campus houses the Central Administration, School of Medicine (SoM), School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM), School of Public Health (SPH) and Faculty of Education (FoE) and Desert Research Institute (DRI).[15]
Tamale City Campus
UDS second gate
Tamale City Campus is a centre for the following: Graduate School, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IIR), Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), Colleges of Education Affiliation and Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC).[16]
The following are located at Nyankpala Campus: Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences (FoAFCS), Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment (FNRE), Faculty of Biosciences (FoB), School of Engineering (SoE), West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) and West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT).[17][18]
Tamale North Campus
The Campus is site for School of Applied Economics and Management Sciences (SAEMS).[19]
Eastern Campus, Yendi
Eastern Campus is a site for Faculty of Communication and Cultural Studies (FCCS) and Faculty of Sustainable Development Studies (FoSDS), Centre for Culture, Heritage and African Studies (CCHAS) and Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CePSS).[20]
Schools/Faculties
Entrance of the Central Administration block
Faculty of Planning and Land Management
Department of Community Development
Department of Planning and Management
Department of Real Estate and Land management
Faculty of Agriculture
Department of Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Technology
Department of Agricultural Extension and Farm Management
Directorate of Colleges of Education Affiliation[37]
Campuses
Nyankpala, Northern Region, Ghana – houses the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Physical Science and the School of Engineering.
Tamale City Campus is a centre for the following: Graduate School, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IIR), Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), Colleges of Education Affiliation and Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC).
Tamale Campus, Dungu, Northern Region, Ghana – houses the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Public health and The Faculty of Education[38][39]
Third trimester field practical programme
For the Third Trimester Practical Programme (TTFPP) the whole of the third trimester is devoted to practical field work in the local communities. Students of a given year group identify a specific region, and in smaller groups live and interact with the people in the local communities during each third trimester for a period of three years. The programme began in 1993. It entails the combination of students from all the faculties: Agriculture, Integrated Development Studies; Applied Science and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
List of vice chancellors
Prof. R.B Bening Pioneer Vice Chancellor (1992 – 2001)[40]
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