The Governing Council of University of The Gambia has decided not to renew the contract of Vice Chancellor Professor Herbert Robinson, which will end in January 2027.
The council announced this decision to the Chancellor of UTG, President Adama Barrow and the VC Robinson in a letter dated 2nd November.
It ordered the vice chancellor to prepare and submit a comprehensive handover report while a joint search committee has been constituted to undertake necessary arrangements for the recruitment and appointment of a successor.
According to the governing council, the decision not to renew Robinson’s contract follows an assessment of his performance in the discharge of his executive, administrative and institutional leadership responsibilities, which found “material shortcomings in executive leadership, institutional management, accountability and governance” of the UTG.
“Having carefully considered the assessment findings and their implications for the university’s institutional effectiveness, strategic direction and governance, the governing council resolved that your current contract of appointment as vice chancellor shall not be renewed upon its expiry,” the council wrote to the VC in a letter informing him of its decision against a renewal.
The council explained that its consolidated performance assessment identified significant areas requiring improvement in the discharge of the responsibilities of the Office of the Vice chancellor and these included strategic leadership and implementation of the university’s strategic plan, financial management, institutional accountability, internal controls and audit compliance, human resource management and staff welfare, corporate governance and compliance with governing council decisions and resolutions, communication, transparency and stakeholder engagement, academic quality assurance, research development and the management of institutional partnerships and commitments.
It said, having considered the assessment findings and their implications for the UTG’s institutional effectiveness and long term development, the council is determined that the university’s best interest would be served by a change in leadership.
