The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has commended the Distance Education Students Association of Ghana (DESAG-UCC) as the most vibrant student association in the University.
According to Prof. Ampiah, the achievement chalked up by the current and past executives of DESAG was remarkable. The Vice-Chancellor mentioned the construction of a three-storey Multi-Purpose Building by the association at the Cape Coast Study Centre to be used as a Child Relaxation Centre for nursing mothers and baby-sitters.
The facility, which is at the final stages of completion, is also expected to bring some relief to nursing mothers on the distance education programme, to facilitate their academic work during face-to- face and end-of-semester examinations. "We commend DESAG for such brilliant initiative", said the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Ampiah noted that the College of Distance Students (CODE) and DESAG would continue to work closely to replicate similar projects in other regions
Prof. Ampiah gave the commendation during the 14th Session of the 50th Congregation where1, 534 graduands were awarded degrees in their various disciplines. He lauded DESAG for instituting scholarship schemes to assist needy but brilliant students to support their education.
He, however, cautioned managers of the scholarship scheme to ensure transparency in the distribution of funds to deserving underprivileged students.
He announced that the five best graduating Diploma students would be sponsored by the University through CoDE to pursue Post Diploma. He added: " The best Business and Education students will be sponsored to do Master’s degree in the University of Cape-Coast.”
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the Academic Board of the University had considered a report by the committee set up to restructure the Programmes run at the College to make them more relevant and in consonance with those run at the regular mode.
According to him, implementation of the recommendations of the Committee would start from 2018/19 academic year. Prof. Ampiah, however, called for the cooperation of all staff of the University, especially those at CoDE, for a smooth implementation of the recommendations to inure to the benefit of the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor mentioned delays in the completion of some awarded projects and the production of modules for the students countrywide as major challenges facing the College. He, therefore, appealed to the service providers to the College to expedite work on the production of modules. Prof. Ampiah commended module writers, Chief Examiners, Facilitators, Study Centre Coordinators and Staff of the University for sacrificing their weekends to support the activities of CoDE. Prof. Ampiah congratulated the graduands and advised them to be worthy ambassadors of the University in all their endeavours.