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PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR RECEIVES UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (USF) DELEGATION

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PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR RECEIVES UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (USF) DELEGATION

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. D.D. Kuupole, has received a delegation from the University of South Florida, USA, led by the Provost of the USF, Prof. Ralph Wilcox at the Council Chamber, North Campus.

The visit was  part of the Provost's tour of the five newly-selected global partners of the University of South Florida, among whom is the UCC. Other partners are the University of Ghana, two Universities from China and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.

The main focus of the tour, Prof. Ralph Wilcox explained, was to express the idea of bringing together staff and students from the USF's global academic partners in the development of research and learning as well as the development of new curricula among particular universities.

Giving an over-view of the University, Prof. Wilcox said USF is number two in Research and one of the most rapidly growing research institutions in Florida.  He added that the university is driven by five principles which included focus and innovation for students, community engagement of students' global impact/global literacy and integrated/interdisciplinary inquiry.  Students were therefore encouraged and motivated to create new knowledge aside of what their community engage in and are taught about other cultures in order for them to be able to cope with all cultures.  These are achieved through volunteer opportunities, exchange programmes and joint degrees with other Universities.

The University of South Florida also engages in a Global Academic Programme in which funds are provided for Professors in partner universities for a short duration to build collaborative research programmes.  This programme also provides an opportunity for professors to collaborate in developing new curricula.

The institution is also critical in achieving mutual benefit in which case it gives opportunities to lecturers in partner institutions to visit USF in order to be mentored by Professors in USF to get their terminal degrees.  There is also the exchange programme concept in which students from partner universities are given the opportunity to visit USF and vice versa to study.  On a possible collaboration with the School of Medical Sciences (UCC), the Provost of USF Prof. Wilcox mentioned that USF has an ultra modern health facility and will be willing to send a health team to UCC at the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor.

 

Contributing, the Director of the Centre for International Education, Prof. K. Opoku-Agyemang, indicated that UCC also encouraged a split-site programme of learning and as such the exchange programme would be a viable area of collaboration.  He was quick to indicate that, the tuition fees in UCC (Ghana) and USF (USA) varied so much and therefore should be considered when the exchange programme was being implemented.

Areas of possible collaboration which came up for discussion included:

  • Joint publications
  • Networking of all institutions in the partnership and research collaboration as major areas of partnership
  • Early Childhood and Science & Mathematics Education
  • collaboration in which the department will be assisted in the management of medical records which is one of the main problems in the Ghanaian Health System with their advance electronic management system

The Registrar, Mr. Isaac Ohene, observed that, there had been a lot of such discussions about collaboration but "this particular one seemed more focused".  He suggested an appointment of a coordinator who would make sure the MOU was signed and its terms implemented.

In his closing remarks, Prof. D. D. Kuupole directed the Director of the C.I.E. to act as the coordinator for the partnership to ensure its smooth take-off.  Prof. K. Opoku-Agyemang accepted the opportunity offered him and also gave assurance to the Provost, USF that UCC would invite the Health Team from USF to visit the UCC School of Medical Sciences for a possible collaboration as soon as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang returned from her official duty tour in South Africa.

The Provost of USF was accompanied by the Associate Provost of USF, Dr. Kofi Glover.

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