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UCC Graduates Show Gratitude to God

23 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

A Congregation Thanksgiving Service has been held by the University of Cape Coast,UCC, to thank God for a successful graduation ceremony for its graduates who completed their studies in the 2016/17 academic year.   The service, held at the New Examinations Centre (NEC), was on the theme, “I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth (PS. 138:1)”.  The graduates, most of whom were clad in an all-white attire, danced and sang to the glory of God for how far He had sustained and protected them throughout their four years stay in the University.   Preaching the sermon, the Archbishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Catholic Church, Mathias Kobena Nketsiah,  congratulated the graduates on their graduation and asked them to always give thanks to the Lord for seeing them through their academic journey in the University.He said although some of the students went through strenuous academic life on campus, they had managed to sail through successfully.   “Our graduates have put in a lot of efforts and hard work for their success. We cannot forget the quizzes, the fees and other payments. You should bear the fruit of thanksgiving.”  he told the congregation. He admonished the graduates to emulate the exemplary life of the Samarian Leper who thanked Jesus for healing him of leprosy, unlike the other nine lepers who exhibited gross ingratitude. "So let us avoid ingratitude. God hates ingratitude. God has done marvelous and mighty works for us and we must thank Him", the Archbishop said. He challenged them to use the knowledge and skills they had acquired to transform the nation. He asked them to "Go and be a blessing for your family and children. Let your formation count, let your education count for your country." The Archbishop called for integral education and advised Ghanaians not to place Science and Technology higher than the other academic disciplines. He advised those who claim music, arts, humanities and moral education had no place in modern academic curriculum to reconsider their position. He queried:" Scientists enjoy music, don't they?, they enjoy arts, don't they?". " We need an education that is holistic. Let us give Science and Technology and the other related subjects adequate space. Don't exclude the other disciplines," he concluded.   In a speech read on his behalf by the Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, thanked the organizers for organizing the service. He urged the graduates to make good use of the training they had gone through in the University by helping to build a better society. Prof. Ampiah charged them to be life-long learners and encouraged them to come back to the school to pursue their post graduate studies. The Vice-Chancellor also implored the graduates to be guided by the values of the University's anthem in all their endeavours.  

Administration

Contribute Effectively to Existing Knowledge in Your Field of Study-Chancellor Urges Graduates

22 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Chancellor, Sir. Dr. Sam Jonah, has stated that the goal of graduate studies is to expose students to methods and standards of research needed to work professionally at the frontiers of knowledge.

"Research-oriented training conveys the importance of keeping pace with a subject, the knowledge of which is always changing. It nurtures intellectual curiosity and a creative response to problems", he said.

The Chancellor said this at the 6th session of the 50th congregation held for graduates of the School of Graduate Studies at which a total of 1307 students were presented with their degrees.  Dr. Jonah told the graduands that the training they had received was valuable to operate in all areas of work, indicating that "Whether one is in teaching in a university, conducting research in government, industry or private enterprise or pursuing a professional career"'. He noted that each of the graduands had the potential for leadership, adding they had already been imparted with leadership skills and, therefore, they should seize the opportunities to address them to the benefit of society.

Presenting his annual report to congregation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, noted that the 6th session was very significant because it marked the first semi-annual graduation ceremony of the School of Graduate Studies. According to the Vice-Chancellor, it had become needful to institute such an arrangement to ensure that students, who completed their programmes of study in June or July, would not have to wait until March the following year. He indicated that another session had been scheduled for March 2018.

 Prof. Ampiah announced that in order to open new gateways for knowledge, research and academic exchange, 20 local and international collaborations were established. "MoUs were signed to symbolize commitment on the part of the University and these institutions for development of meaningful outputs". "We believe these gateways will create many opportunities for students, faculty and staff members by providing new avenues for both local and international ".

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that 16 PhD, 72 M.Phil, 12 Master of Nursing, 154 MCom/MBA, 176 MSc and 534 M.Ed, 307 MA and 32 PGDE/ PGCE were presented.  He said the University had not relented on its core mandate of ensuring the relevance of graduate programmes for promotion economic, social, scientific and technology development of our dear country. "Pursuant to this mandate, the School of Graduate Studies in collaboration with other colleges, have either introduced or repackaged several MPhil/PhD programmes. He said the Board of the school of Graduate Studies, Academic Board and management would take these programmes through the accreditation process in order to mount them during the 2018/2019 academic year.

Prof. Ampiah said graduate studies would soon become the driving force in UCC’s continuous contribution to national human resource growth and also help sustain the national development agenda. He announced that the School of Graduate Studies was introducing more flexible programmes in choices and mode of delivery through implementation of Joint and Dual Degree Programmes, in line with international best practice. "Indeed, this is the way to go now with the increasing demand of employers for employee versatility", he noted.

  The Vice-Chancellor mentioned that lack of office space was the major challenge facing the School and expressed the hope that work on the permanent building would be completed on schedule. “Work on the permanent building being funded by GETFund has stalled due to lack of funds", he said.  Notwithstanding this, the Vice-Chancellor said he was hopeful the sector ministry would help accelerate the physical development of the Graduate School.

Administration

UCC Graduates 6,886 Students

21 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

The University of Cape Coast, UCC, has held its 50th Congregation ceremony which saw the passing out of 6,886 undergraduate and postgraduate students from various academic disciplines. Out of the total number, 5579 were awarded undergraduate degrees, while 1,307 were awarded postgraduate degrees.   Students from the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, College of Health and Allied Sciences, College of Education Studies, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences and the School of Graduate Studies who successfully completed their studies in the 2016/17 academic year were presented with their respective degrees at the ceremony.   Delivering an address at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah commended the graduands on their graduation and advised them to capitalise on every golden opportunity that would come on their way. He urged them to focus on their vision, dreams and aspirations because “Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary in their abilities but in their determination to reach their goal. Prof. Ampiah asked the graduands to be proud of the quality education they had received from the University, adding that although training at UCC had been strict, it would go a long way to make them better individuals.  He enjoined the graduands to be good ambassadors of the University in all their endeavours. The Vice-Chancellor announced several research interventions aimed at boosting productivity to transform livelihoods, advance the frontiers of knowledge and align with the vision of the University through enhancement of researcher visibility had been instituted. The Chairman of Council, Mrs. Nancy Thompson, called for the early completion of infrastructure projects in the University to enhance academic work. She, however, called on members of the business community to partner the University to complete the projects. Mrs. Thompson expressed optimism that the knowledge and skills the graduands had acquired would enable them to impact positively in their community and  society at large. She appealed to  the graduands to use the knowledge  gained at the university to serve humanity to the best of their ability and contribute their quota to the advancement of the University, stressing that "Once with UCC always with UCC". The Chairman of Council enjoined them to be guided by the motto of the University- Veritas Nobis Lumen (Truth our Guide)- in all their lives.  

Administration

UCC Open Day Receives Massive Patronage

20 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

Hundreds of people from all walks of life converged at the forecourt of the  Sam Jonah Library of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to see at firsthand  new discoveries by students at this year's Open Day programme ahead of the 50th Congregation. The event, which is held annually, afforded University management, parents, guardians,prospective applicants and the general public the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the  numerous research works, discoveries, as well as projects being undertaken by  Departments in the University. The  Day was also held to provide guidance to Senior High School students who might want to pursue courses at the University in the next academic year. Some of the items displayed include robot manufactured by the students of Computer Science, maps by Geography students, detergents manufactured by Chemistry students, among other interesting things. Representatives of the various departments that mounted stands were seen explaining thoroughly their exhibits to students and the general public. Speaking after being conducted around some stands, The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, said he was happy about the products on display and  described the exhibition as " innovative and very impressive ". He challenged  Departments to make their innovations visible to every nook and cranny of the world. " I am  very convinced that this will  make industries aware of the various activities and ground- breaking inventions at the various Department",  he stressed. Prof Ampiah commended the students for their show of dexterity to the general public through their products. He advised that next year, the exhibition should be organized by putting departments at one place within units, to make items on display by each college easily identifiable  to patrons. As a result, he encouraged all departments under the colleges to work towards the Day and make it exceptional. Prof. Ampiah also called  on industry players  to make themselves available next year, so they could be abreast of  products that were beneficial to their industries. Accompanying the Vice-Chancellor were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro and the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan, who were equally upbeat about the prospects of students of the University and advised them not to be complacent ,but they should strive hard to make new discoveries from their research.   As part of the programme, students of Adisadel College, St. Augustine College, Oguaa Secondary Technical and T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Ekumfi were taking through the admission requirements of the University.  

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UTAG Inaugurates National and Local Committees

20 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has inaugurated various committees both at the local and national levels to perform specific tasks to propel the association onto a higher pedestal. At the local level, the inaugurated committees are “Experts Forum Committee”, “Health Committee” and “Local Executive Committee”. The national include “Conditions of Service Review Committee” and “National Research and Innovation Fair Committee”. The reports of the National Committees will be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG for ratification. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for each of the committees, the National President of UTAG, Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, charged the chair and members of each of the committees to work towards achieving the mandates assigned them and also contribute their knowledge and rich experience to help protect and project the enviable reputation of UTAG both locally and nationally.  “I am of the firm conviction that you will never disappoint us, considering the high confidence we have in you to help us achieve our goals” he noted.  Dr. Mensah indicated that with the additional responsibilities as leaders of UTAG National, they were determined to transform the association as the hub of knowledge for development in the nation and beyond. He therefore, assured the committees that they would be provided the necessary support to enable them work effectively and efficiently. The membership of the inaugurated committees comprises; Experts Forum Committee Prof. Samuel K. Annim( Dept of Economics)                                         Chairman Dr. (Mrs) Eunice Fay Amissah (Dept of Tourism) Dr. Emmanuel Amo Ofori (Dept of Gh. Lang & Linguistics Dr. Samuel Kyei (Dept of Optometry) Dr. Kojo Okyere (Dept of Religion & Human Values) Dr. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi (Dept of Optometry) Dr. Yvonne Adjakoe (Dept of Geog. & Regional Planning) Health Committee Dr. Leonard Derkyi-Kwarteng (Sch of Medical Sciences) – Chairman Mr. Kwame Owusu Agyemang (Faculty of Law) Dr. Isshaq Zangina (School of Business) Dr. Evelyn Anane Sarpong (Dept of Community Medicine) Mr. Samuel Assabil (Dept of Actuarial Science) Mr. Joseph Kizzie-Hayford (Univ. Health Services)   Local Executive Committee Dr. Bernard Acquah (Dept of Arts & Soc. Sci. Education) Dr. Christopher Yarkwa (Dept of ICT Education) Dr. Emmanuel Amo Ofori (Dept of Gh. Lan & Linguistics) Dr. Yvonne Adjakloe (Dept of Geog. & Reg Planning) Miss Monica Koranteng (College of Distance Education) Dr. Leonard Derkyi-Kwarteng (School of Medical Sciences) Dr. Samuel Kyei (Dept of Optometry) Mr. Kwakucher Ackah (School of Agriculture) Dr. Alex Yaw Adom (Dept of Management Studies)   Conditions of Service Review Committee Rev. Emmanuel Abole (Dept. of Crop Science)                      Chairman Prof. Edward Marfo Yiadom (Dean, School of Business) Prof. Peter Grant (Dept. of Classics & Philosophy) Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro (Dept of Soc. & Anthropology) Dr. Ferdinand Ahiakpor (Dept. of Economics) Mr. Kujo E. McDave (Dean, Faculty of Law) Dr. Emmanuel Abu (Dept of Optometry) National Research and Innovation Fair Committee Prof. Ato Armah (Dep. Director, DRIC)                                        Chairman Dr. Ernest Teye (Dept of Agric Engineering) Dr. Hussein Inusah ( Dept of Classics & Philosophy) Mr. Daniel  Amoako Sakyi (School of Medical Sciences) Dr. Abigail Opoku Mensah (Dept of Management) Dr. Akwasi Anyanful(Dept of Biochemistry) Dr. Alex Yaw Adom (Dept. of Management)  

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DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT GETS CIPS ACCREDITATION

19 Oct, 2017 By Anonymous (not Verified)

The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) has issued a certificate of accreditation to the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, School of Business, University of Cape Coast for the MCOM/MSC in Procurement and Supply Chain Management. The Department has also initiated similar process to get it programmes accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF). The benefit of these accreditations is that students who successfully complete our MCOM/MSC in Procurement and Supply Chain Management automatically become members of these Professional Bodies.  

Administration

UCC Researchers Advocate Biochar for Farmers

17 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

A group of researchers from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS) have advocated the use of biochar in vegetable production. Biochar is a charcoal product that is produced from plant matter and stored in the soil. According to the researchers, biochar is widely known to improve water, reduce soil acidity and retain soil nutrients for plant and crop utilization. They made this known during a one-day Farmer Field Day held at the UCC Technology Village. The ongoing research, led by Dr. Kwame Agyei Frimpong of the Department of Soil Science, is being funded by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC). The researchers noted that when farmers adopt biochar, deforestation would become a thing of the past.   Presenting partial findings of the research to some selected Small Holder Farmers, a member of the team, Dr. Martin Bosompem, said that the use of charcoal to improve soil fertility started in some parts of Brazil several years ago. He added that biochar could be created from a wide variety of feed stocks, including corn cobs, rice husk, cocoa husk, cow dung, poultry manure, saw dust, among others. He pointed out that residue of household charcoal could also be used for the production of biochar.    Consequently, he explained to the farmers that since biochar could be made from numerous feedstock and in different ways, its characteristics and impact on plant health could vary. He indicated that the effects of biochar on farmlands would be felt for many years and farmers could enjoy its immense benefits for a long time, stressing that “Biochar is cost effective as compared with the price of chemical fertilizer”. He took participants through the process of creating biochar and later took them to the farm at the Technology Village to show them crops with biochar application and crops without biochar. However, it was observed that crops planted on the same day with biochar had grown better than those without biochar. He advised farmers to use safety tools such as nose masks, goggles, gloves, among others, when applying biochar on their farmlands. The lead Researcher, Dr. Kwame Agyei Frimpong, said the aim of the research was to educate farmers on the need to maintain soil fertility with the use of biochar. At the end of the research, Dr. Frimpong said the team hoped to find out the rate of biochar that would be applicable to different soils under different conditions and variety of crops. He said the team would also assist farmers on how they could produce biochar cheaply and apply them easily on their farmlands. He called on farmers to take soil fertility seriously and seek professional guidance on fertilizer, compost and biochar applications. He appealed to them to form an association to champion their cause. The participants also expressed gratitude to the research team for the eye opener and appealed for more education on how to preserve the land with biochar.  

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Auburn University and UCC to Embark on Joint Projects

16 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

Auburn University (AU) is committed to deepening collaboration with the University of Cape Coast. To demonstrate this, AU will roll out two outreach programmes with UCC in 2018. These are Youth Camp and Annual Health Clinical Programmes. This came to light when a two-member delegation from AU, led by the Vice-President of the University Outreach and Associate Provost of AU, Dr. Royrickers Cook, called on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T.  Oduro. According to Dr. Cook, AU was making every effort to translate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with UCC last year into reality to strengthen the relationship between the two institutions. Shedding lights on the forthcoming Youth Camp, a member of the delegation, Dr. Elizabeth Essamuah- Quansah, said AU would organise a Youth Camp in either June or July 2018 to target students in both the senior high and elementary schools. The purpose of the camp, according to Dr. Essamuah-Quansah, who is the Coordinator, Outreach Global of AU, was to educate the students on how to prepare variety of dishes and also enlighten them on how to make academic presentations. Again, she noted that the students would benefit from training on sanitation and hygiene. Touching on Annual Health Clinic to be held in March 2018, Dr. Essamuah-Quansah said AU would  bring students from its School of Nursing to Ghana to embark on health screening in some rural communities in the Central region. She said AU Nursing students would  partner their counterparts from UCC School of Nursing  to screen beneficiaries for eye and throat examinations, diabetes, hypertension,amongst other health conditions. She added that those with serious conditions would be referred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for further treatment. Dr. Essamuah-Quansah indicated that AU would collaborate with the Centre for Teaching Support to equip faculty from different colleges with the requisite teaching skills. That, she said, would be done both online and onsite and indicated that participants would pay a token and receive certificate of participation at the end of the two-week course. For his part, Prof. Oduro thanked Auburn University for the extra mile of commitment and assured the delegation that UCC would support the programme.  In a related development, the two-member delegation from Auburn University met the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Kwamena Duncan.  The delegation, led by Dr. Cook, appealed to the Minister to support the upcoming Annual Health Clinic with logistics. He indicated that AU would also organise Entrepreneurship session to graduates in UCC to sensitize them on the need to set up their own businesses. The Minister, on his part, thanked the delegation for choosing the Central Region and expressed his readiness to support the good cause by AU.    

Administration

Dr. Cook Visits Agona Asafo

16 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

Dr. Royrickers Cook has met with the Chief and Elders of Agona Asafo in the Agona East District of the Central Region to find ways of improving the lives of the people in the community. Speaking at the meeting, the Omanhen of Agona Asafo, Nana Nyamfo Essuako XI, on behalf of the people, expressed appreciation to Dr. Cook for the visit and assured him of the preparedness of Asafoman to partner him to bring development to the area. Nana Nyamfo Essuako XI, who is also the Nyinfahen of Agonaman, reiterated that the people of the area were basically farmers and, therefore, looking forward to how the partnership could help improve on that enterprise to alleviate poverty, as well as adding value to their produce. The Omanhen also mentioned that through the ingenuity and generosity of some friends abroad, a community library had been put up to improve education in the town. According to him, the facility lacked some materials such as books, computers and internet connectivity; and other modern tools for teaching and learning. In view of this, he appealed to Dr. Cook and his team to assist in that direction.  He also appealed to Dr. Cook to help put up a Cocoa processing facility in the community to facilitate value addition to cocoa produced in the area. It would be recalled that Dr. Cook, who is the Vice President of University Outreach and Associate Provost at the Auburn University (AU) in the United States of America, was installed the Nkosuohen (Development Chief) of Asafo early in the year. He thanked the chiefs and people for the warm reception accorded him and his team. He said the visit had given him an insight of the area, saying he would continue to educate himself more about Cocoa and its production and other products that could be obtained from it.He assured that he would endeavour to secure some books and computers for the community library. That, he indicated, would boost both learning and computer literacy among students in the catchment area and beyond.  As part of the visit, Dr. Cook was taken on a tour of some Cocoa farms at Asafo to acquaint himself with the production of the cash crop. An indigene of Agona Asafo, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, who facilitated the partnership with Dr. Cook, said the area has an aggregation of more than a thousand acres of cocoa farms and could constantly supply a processing plant that is put up there with quality beans. Prof. Oduro, who is also the Pro Vice-Chancellor, was happy that both the Member of Parliament of the area, Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr and the District Chief Executive, Dennis Armah Frimpong were present at the meeting.“The presence of both the MP and DCE means we at Agona East have moved beyond politics”, he stressed.   Dr. Cook was accompanied on the visit by the Coordinator, Outreach Global at AU, Dr. Elizabeth Essamuah-Quansah and a businessman and an Alumnus of Auburn University, Mr. Reginald Moss.  

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DRIC Builds Capacity of CoDE Senior Members

13 Oct, 2017 By louis Mensah

A two-day capacity workshop has been organised by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) for Senior Members of the College of Distance Education (CoDE) to hone their skills in the discharge of their duties. A former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kobina Yankson, who took participants through the topic " Mentorship at University of Cape Coast”, noted that mentorship forms an essential part of the progression of every higher educational institution. He said since 2008, UCC had advocated mentorship at every sphere of the academic  ladder and, therefore, advised Senior Members to mentor newly employed colleagues for them to impact positively on the current crop of students.  Unlike the era of Ordinary and Advanced Level systems of education, he noted that, currently academic background of students had changed considerably to the extent that teenagers are now admitted into universities. Consequently, he pointed out that new instructional materials and approaches should be adopted to teach the students. He told the Senior Members that, “We are dealing with students who can't construct sentence well. That is why mentorship is good in our university ".  He said mentors should have in-depth knowledge of the system, work ethics, good knowledge of the vision and mission of CoDE in particular and UCC in general.  Again, he noted that a mentor should acquire supervisory skills, avoid selfishness and be approachable. He called on heads of department to assign mentors to newly recruited colleagues and periodically evaluate the performance of both the mentor and mentee. He said that mentorship was a quality assurance requirement and urged the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance (DAPQA) to assess mentorship in the colleges, faculties and departments.   Other facilitators at the workshop included Prof. Samuel Annim, who spoke on "UCC Research Terrain". Prof. Albert Abane, touched on Article Writing, whilst Prof. Dennis Aheto gave a presentation on Research, Grant Proposal Writing.  Prof. Frederick Armah also spoke on the topic " Improving UCC Visibility ".  

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