The Governing Council of the University for Development Studies, UDS, on Thursday June 9, 2022, appointed Professor Seidu Al-hassan as Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS). His appointment takes effect from September 1, 2022.

Professor Seidu Al-hassan, by this appointment, becomes the fifth person to occupy the position as a substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies.

He is a native of Jisonaayili, a suburb of Tamale and a Professor of Agricultural Economics. He is also an Educationist.

Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, he was a Head of the Department of Food Security and Climate Change and Director of the Institute for Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Research (ICEIR) of the University for Development Studies for the period August 2010-November, 2015. He was also the immediate past Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies for the period 2015- 2019.

He studied Economics (1989-1993) at the University of Cape Coast and took a Masters Degree in Economics at the University of Ghana, Legon (1994-1996) and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Agricultural Economics (2004) at the University of Ghana.

Professor Al-hassan's area of specialisation is Resource Use Efficiency, Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood and Environment and Climate Change.

He was appointed Commissioner on the National Development Planning Commission (2015-2017) and represented UDS on the Stakeholder Coordinating Committee of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). He is currently the Chairman of Northern Region Sports Committee (2021).

Professor Seidu Al-hassan's relationship with UDS began in 1996 as a Senior Research Assistant in the Department of Economics and Entrepreneurship Development. In 1997, he was appointed a Lecturer in the same Department and later became a Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor in 2008, 2014 and 2018, respectively.
 
Professor Al-hassan has held other key positions during his over 20 years of experience in teaching. research, dissemination of research knowledge and mentorship at the University for Development Studies (UDS).
 
Professor Al-hassan's research work focuses on Development Economics with interest in Ghana's Shea Industry and its role in socio-economic development. He has presented seminars at Politics Department, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA, sponsored by the Africana Studies Program and the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives.
 
He has consulted for various civil society organisations (CS0s), Governmental Agencies and International Agencies on a number of Agricultural Food Systems, Sustainable Development and Environmental subjects.

Professor Seidu Al-hassan has experience in the design of civic education and capacity building programmes in leadership, democracy, empowerment, gender, data management, conflict management, environmental protection, sexual reproductive health, social accountability and microfinance.

Professor Al-hassan has forty (40) peer-reviewed journal publications and is the author of two books, namely,

• Writing a Thesis: A Guide for Social Science Students and 
• Ghana's Shea Industry: Knowing the Fundamentals. 

 
Professor Al-hassan is married with two (2) wives and eight (8) children.

Congratulations on your appointment Professor Seidu Al-hassan! The University Community wishes you the best in your new role.