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Counselling Centre graduates 30 Certified Student Counsellors

12 Aug, 2024 By DIS

Thirty (30) students who undertook a one-year training programme in counselling to become Para-Counsellors have successfully passed out.

The programme, Young and Wise, which began in 2004, was designed to equip  students with the tools and knowledge to counsel their peers on campus.

The 12-month free training programme, organised by the Counselling Centre of the Faculty of Educational Foundations of the University of Cape Coast, covered topics including depression, anxiety disorders, CV writing, sexually transmitted infections and human temperament.

The other areas covered were skills of communication, dating and date rape, and homosexuality, among others.

These topics were tailored to ensure that the graduates used their newly acquired skills and expertise to play useful roles in society.

The students, who are not professional counsellors but first aiders in counselling services, were given certificates as a form of recognition.

The Director of the Counselling Centre, Dr. Rita Holm Adzovie, in her address, commended the graduates for endeavouring to take the course to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge as front liners to offer help to their peers in crisis.

Director of the Counselling Centre, Dr. Rita Holm Adzovie, presenting a certificate of honour to a graduate

Consequently, she continued, "As lay practitioners, you are expected to support your colleagues in particular and by extension Ghanaians to deal with emotional strain. This is a very sacred duty whose performance should not be motivated by a search for financial gain. Emotionally troubled people are unproductive and a drain on the economy."

She charged the graduates to create more awareness of the programme.

“You have to be good news bearers and inform others about the knowledge and skills you have acquired during the training”, said Dr. Adzovie

For his part, the Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Eugene Kwarteng-Nantwi, admonished the fresh graduates to eschew all forms of unethical lifestyles and rather be hardworking and disciplined.

Coordinator of the Young and Wise programme, Dr. Eugene Kwarteng-Nantwi, presenting a certificate of honour to a graduate

He advised the fresh graduates to always put what they have learnt during their intensive study at the Centre into practice, urging them to be humble and respectful.

He used the occasion to appeal to heads of educational institutions to intensify counselling sessions for students.

According to him, counselling plays a vital role in the development of students serving as a tool to manage mental health issues such as anxiety, and depression, and empowering people to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

A lecturer at the Centre, Dr. Gloria Ambrose-Owusu, speaking at the ceremony, lauded the students for enduring the challenge to go through the course, saying “Despite all the difficulties the battle has come to an end.” 

She, therefore, tasked them to “Go out and turn things round by proving yourself as worthy ambassadors of the Counselling Centre.” 

On behalf of her colleagues, one of the graduates, Ruth Osei, expressed appreciation for the training and said they would use the knowledge acquired to the benefit of society.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

Prof. Jerry Paul Ninnoni appointed Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery

12 Aug, 2024 By DIS

An Associate Professor of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Prof. Jerry Paul Kukye-Ayiri Ninnoni, has been appointed as the new Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM) of the University of Cape Coast.

He replaces Prof. (Mrs) Nancy Innocentia Ebu Enyan, the immediate past Dean of the School.

Prof Ninnoni, before the current appointment which takes immediate effect, had served as the Head of the Department of Mental Health.

In his acceptance speech at a brief handover ceremony, Prof. Ninnoni pledged to discharge his duties to serve the School diligently and with dedication, adding that his doors would always be open.

He expressed commitment to continue the work of his predecessor and solicited the support of the staff of the School to ensure a successful three-year tenure.

Prof. Ninnoni (left) receiving handover notes from the immediate past Dean of the SoNM, Prof. Ebu Enyan

For her part, Prof. Ebu Enyan, who is now the Head of the Department for Public Health, congratulated Prof. Jerry Paul Ninnoni on his appointment.

With her experience and leadership acumen demonstrated during her tenure as Dean, she assured her successor of the necessary support required to fulfill his duties effectively.

Expressing gratitude for the support received from staff during her tenure, Prof. Ebu Enyan urged staff members to extend similar support to Prof Ninnoni for the forward march of the School.

Also at the event, Dr. Andrew Adjei Druye handed over the mantle of leadership as Vice-Dean to Dr.  Patience Fakornam Doe, who will serve a two-year tenure.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

L300 Students of Dept. of Forensic Sciences engage in Mock Crime Scene Investigation

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

As part of an annual practical curriculum assessment in the course, FSC 316A: Crime Scene Investigation, the Department of Forensic Sciences has conducted a mock crime scene exercise for the students in Level 300.

 This activity was aimed at providing hands-on experiences in forensic techniques, as well as crime scene processing and management skills. 

 Scenario Setup

Two crime scenes were simulated in a cordoned off area behind the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Coast. 

The students at the crime scene

The first scenario depicted a suspected sexual assault case in a yard with realistic props and the second was an arson-related scenario. 

The prime objective was for the students to recognise, identify evidence, document the scene and apply forensic analytic methods. 

 These annual mock crime scene investigations provided the students with indispensable practical experiences and opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, enhancing their skills in evidence collection, forensic analysis, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning. The activity emphasizes the importance of conscientious attention to detail and the interdisciplinary nature of forensic science.

Student presenting evidence to a judge in the moot court

Results from the processing of the crime scene were used in another related course; FSC 308: Expert Witness Testimony where the students analysed evidence on the simulated cases and their opinions on the matter presented at a moot court, where the students argued their cases in front of a judge.

The lecturers and coordinators of the courses assessed the students on the practical components of the courses.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

Medical Students embark on COBES in Agona East District

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

The School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has dispatched a total of eighty-four (84) medical students to the Agona East District of the Central Region for the Community-Based Experience and Service (COBES) programme.

COBES gives the students a strong community orientation which increases their awareness of the role of social, cultural and environmental factors in health and the relationship between health and development.

The programme forms part of the academic calendar of the SMS to allow students to learn and gain experience in combining academic work with practical community development and projects.

The theme for the programme “Social, cultural and environmental factors in health and disease” aimed to enable the students to appreciate the myriads of factors shaping the health and disease landscape of communities.

Chief of Mfantse Bawjiase Kokoado, one of the communities selected for the programme, interacting with some of the medical students

The medical students – all in Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Level 300 - were deployed to five communities, including Seth Okai, Agona Duoto, Namanwora, Mfantse Bawjiase Kokoado and Ninta for the exercise.

In the communities, the students undertook research and organised health education programmes, as well as free health screening for the rural folks.

The students also offered youth mentorship, behavioural change communication campaigns and supported CHPS compounds in the communities with their medical skills.

The students also donated medical items such as malaria test kits, cement, paints, sanitary pads, exercise books, veronica buckets, mosquito nets, roofing sheets and fertilizers among others to the community members.

Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Professor Sebastian Eliason, addressing the gathering at Agona Duoto

Speaking at Agona Duoto, the Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Professor Sebastian Eliason, noted that the impact the programme would have on the communities was very key and urged students to pay attention to what they would be doing in the various communities.

“It is not just about sending you here, but we are looking up for the impact, your contribution towards   healthcare needs of the country is imperative for the socio-economic development”.

He advised the students to be of good behaviour during the programme and ensure that they were good ambassadors of the University in the various communities.

Individually, the chiefs in the various communities held durbars to welcome the medical students.

Some students at Namanwora performing a traditional dance during the durbar for the UCC medical students

For their part, the medical students promised to serve the communities selflessly.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

Dept. of Sport and Exercise interacts with SHS students

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

The executives of the Association of Sport and Exercise Science have reached out to final-year students in selected second-cycle institutions in the Cape Coast Municipality to educate them on the relevance of pursuing BSc. Sport and Exercise Science.

The final-year students were armed with information on the admission requirements for the Sport and Exercise Science programme, including prerequisite courses and the application process.

The initiative, which formed part of the week celebration of the association, kicked off at the Efutu Senior High School and ended at the Academy of Christ the King Senior High School.

Team

The executives, led by the President, Mr. John Agyekum, took the students through career guidance and counselling, focusing on the Sciences.

The Dpt. of Sport and Exercise Science team with some students of Efutu SHS

To be able to pursue a BSc. Sport and Exercise Science, He underlined the need for the students to have a strong foundation in science subjects, particularly biology, physics, chemistry, and elective mathematics, as well as courses such as geography, costing, economics and accounting.

President Agyekum told them that the Department of Sport and Exercise Science was under the School of Health and Allied Sciences of the College of Health and Allied Sciences at the University of Cape Coast.

The beneficiary students expressed profound gratitude for the generosity extended to them.

A science teacher at Efutu SHS, Mrs. Mabel Asare, lauded the initiative’s impact on her institution and impressed on the students to pursue a BSc. Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Cape Coast.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

UCC to get Centre of Transformative Education

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

 A Centre of Transformative Education is to be established at the University of Cape Coast to provide professional development on transformative pedagogies to tutors of colleges of education, teacher educators at the university, school improvement officers at the Ghana Education Offices and pre-tertiary teachers.

The Centre, which will replace the Outreach Unit of the Institute of Education, will also support evidence-based and inclusive learning, instructional technology, online teaching, and general innovative teaching practices.

The Centre will run short courses, upgrading programmes, and postgraduate programmes in transformative pedagogies and teacher education, as well as grant proposals for projects in transformative education.

The Provost of the College of Education Studies, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis announced this at a stakeholders’ engagement on the creation of the Centre for Transformative Education at the Institute of Education dedicated to supporting quality teacher education for transformative learning outcomes.

The Stakeholders’ engagement brought together staff members of the Ghana Education Service and the University of Cape Coast.

Provost of the College of Education Studies, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, addressing the participants

He explained that the Institute in collaboration with the Global Institute for Transformative Education at Ball State University with the support of Carnegie Diaspora Fellow had developed a proposal to re-orient and upgrade the outreach unit as a Centre of Transformative Education to serve “as a go-to place for teacher educators and schools for help.”

Prof. Davis indicated that with the introduction of a standard-based curriculum, it was abundantly clear that the focus of teaching and learning had changed considerably from evidence of knowledge and processes to evidence of application of the knowledge in a real-world context.

Therefore, the Provost stressed the need for the Institute to make a deliberate effort to orient itself to respond to the national need, as a pacesetter to graduate teacher education in the country.

He called on all stakeholders to support the lofty idea of the Institute to offer concrete curricular linkages between university programmes and the private sector.

Prof. Davis pointed out that the Centre would provide consultancy and upgrade programmes in primary, junior and senior high school teaching.

Diaspora Scholar at the Ball State University, USA, Prof. Michael Ndemanu

He stated that all twenty-one (21) areas of the National Teaching Council short courses for continuous professional development points had been reviewed to give them transformational orientation.

At the programme, the Diaspora Scholar at the Ball State University, USA, Prof. Michael Ndemanu, spoke on “Transformative Education: Its Role in Improving Human Development Index.”

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

Prioritise needs of students – IEPA DG urges new Heads of Department

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

The Director-General of the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence for West Africa at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom, has urged lecturers to prioritise the needs of students and create an enabling environment for them to thrive.

He expressed worry that some lecturers do not bother to enquire about students who were unable to return to school in a new academic year which may be as a result of factors such as financial difficulties at home militating against them.

To him, faculty members should not sit aloof for such predicaments to serve as the basis for students to forfeit the hope of continuing school.

"When students don't return to school, we just go ahead to put ICs. Somebody must follow up on them. Payment of school fees might be a challenge for the student. So, we as colleagues can come together to assist such a student", he said.

Dr. Boakye-Yiadom gave the advice at a leadership seminar organised by the School of Allied Health Sciences as part of the handover ceremony for new heads of department in the school.

Some members of faculty of the School and Administrative staff members at the seminar

It was on the theme, "Leading Universities for Learning: Support Systems for Faculty, Administrators and Students in Improving Learning Outcomes."

The Director-General used the occasion to enjoin lecturers not to take swipes at students in class, adding that such behaviour could dampen their spirits.

He urged lecturers to be patient with the modern students, who he described as "digital natives" as a result of their tech-savvy and multitasking skills.

Dr. Michael Boakye Yiadom, who was the resource person for the seminar, indicated the students need to be moulded to fit into society so they don't go astray.

He asked the new heads of department to execute their duties diligently and professionally.

"As heads, your staff expects you to be honest, inspiring, innovative, role model and forward-looking," he continued.

He advised the new office holders against lording their positions over their staff but delegate some of their duties to them for efficiency.

Dean of the School, Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong

The Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong, in his closing remarks, charged the new heads to wear their ‘servant’ coats and serve their departments as waiters and not lords waiting to be served.

He advised the freshly-appointed leaders to see their positions as a sacrifice, where they need to empower and help their staff to take over from them in the future.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

UCC lecturers granted access to research facilities and database for collaborative Project

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

Six Faculty Members from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics have been granted access to research facilities and database of Penn State University and the International Centre for Diffraction (ICDD) to conduct collaborative projects.

The Faculty Members are Dr. Francis Nsiah (Department of Chemistry), Dr. Samuel Tetteh (Department of Chemistry), Prof. Raymond Edziah (Department of Physics), Dr. Samuel Sonko Sackey (Department of Physics), Dr. Albert Ofori (Department of Chemistry) and Dr. Michael Vowotor ((Department of Physics).

The Project will lead to the training of chemists, physicists and material scientists from the University of Cape Coast.

Below is the story on the official website of the ICDD.

The International Centre for Diffraction Data recently awarded a group of researchers at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), in Cape Coast, Ghana, Africa, two years of access to the PDF-5+ database and JADE® Pro software as part of the organization’s FAIR (Free Access to ICDD Resources) initiative. FAIR is an initiative aimed at promoting global scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing by providing free database access to selected labs worldwide. The database is a valuable resource for researchers in materials science, chemistry, and related fields as it contains information on the crystallographic properties of a vast array of materials, including minerals, metals, and polymers.

The UCC group was recommended for the initiative through collaborations with Penn State University (MRI and MATSE) and is designed with the goal in mind of both helping laboratories with current financial limitations in acquiring the database and analysis software and in developing collaborations with groups and researchers in Africa.

In addition to general access to the database, the ICDD will assist with training in data mining using PDF-5+ and phase identification using JADE Pro to foster a more collaborative and inclusive scientific community where all researchers have equal opportunities to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation, regardless of their financial resources or geographic location. Ultimately, the goal is a collaboration between researchers at all organizations (UCC, PSU, ICDD) and the publication of research results in the Powder Diffraction Journal. After two years of free access, the UCC can purchase the database at a reduced renewal rate.

Source: ICDD/DIS-UCC

 

 

School of Allied Health Sciences Holds Handover Ceremony

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

The School of Allied Health Sciences has held a handover ceremony for two former Heads of Department to newly-appointed ones.

Prof. Alexander Egyir-Yawson of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Dr. Richard Okyere of the Department of Health Information Management passed the mantle of responsibility and leadership of their respective departments to the new heads.

The freshly appointed heads are Prof. Kofi Amegah (Department of Biomedical Sciences) who will run a three-year term and Dr. Nathan Kumasenu Mensah (Department of Health Information Management) who will run a term of two years.

Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong

The Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong, congratulated the new Heads of Departments and advised them to run an open-door administration and be tolerant of divergent views.

He also tasked them not to be selfish but rather draw the milk of human kindness in them to serve their departments dutifully.

Prof. Acheampong underlined the need for the new office holders, in discharging their duties, to treat everybody equally and refrain from discrimination.

 “If you are a leader and you leave office and there is nobody to take over, it means you were not a leader. A leader mentors. So, by the time you leave office, there should be someone more competent to take over from you. So let us try as much as possible to delegate responsibilities while in office,” he further advised.

Prof. Alexander Egyir-Yawson and Dr. Richard Okyere, the outgone heads of department

On behalf of his colleague, Prof. Alexander Egyir-Yawson, pledged the unflinching support of the old Heads of Department to the new.

He thanked the Vice-Chancellor and all staff of the School of Allied Health Sciences for their support and the opportunity given them to serve the University.

For his part, Dr. Nathan Kumasenu Mensah, thanked the immediate past Heads of Department for their exceptional leadership from which they had learnt a lot.

He urged all staff to support them to make their departments a better place for all.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

 

 

Valco Trust Hall gets Major Facelift

08 Aug, 2024 By DIS

VALCO Trust Hall, the sole graduate student hall of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has been given a massive facelift.

The renovation works saw the fitting of all washrooms, replacement of wash basins, repair of leaking ceilings, and refitting of all kitchens.

The rest are the provision of temporary emergency lighting, the addition of new bath and toilet cubicles, as well as polishing and painting of all internal and external wall surfaces.

The renovated hall is expected to provide a conducive and inclusive space for graduate students.

Appreciation

Commenting on the rationale for the renovation, the Hall Master, Prof. Stephen Ocansey, said the renovation came on the heels of a proposal by the Hall Management to the University Management in April 2023 to address the deteriorating condition of the hall and ensure it was in line with the standards befitting graduate students.

The proposal, according to him, was also aimed at expanding the initial renovation scope of the washrooms to a full-scale overhaul of the hall's facilities.

"The renovations were necessary to uplift the status of the hall and provide a conducive living environment for our graduate students. We are grateful to the University Management for their support and the loan facility extended to cover the renovation costs. The loan will be repaid by the hall from its proceeds", Prof. Ocansey noted.

He commended the management of the University for the facelift.

The Hall Master called on all graduate students to care for the hall to prolong its lifespan.

For his part, the President of the Graduate Students Association of UCC and a member of the Hall Management Board, Mr. Kwabena Agyapong, expressed satisfaction with the completed work.

"The VALCO Trust Hall now truly befits the status of graduate students at our university", he said.

Valco Trust Hall

The VALCO Trust Hall, formally known as the VALCO Trust Fund Graduate Hostel, was constructed with funds from the VALCO Trust Fund to alleviate the accommodation challenges faced by graduate students at UCC. Before its establishment, graduate students were housed in traditional halls of residence. The increasing number of graduate students due to the expansion of graduate programmes necessitated the need for a dedicated hall.

Commissioned on January 29, 2003, by Dr. J.A. Bukoo-Allotey, on behalf of the VALCO Trust Fund's Board of Trustees, the hall was a significant milestone in the University's history.

The hall is designed to accommodate 120 graduate students, with an equal split between male and female residents.

The hall's mission is to provide a well-maintained and community-oriented facility where residents and staff are empowered to learn, innovate, and succeed. Its vision is to become a first-class accommodation facility on UCC campus.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

 

 

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