The Faculty of Science and Technology Education (FSTE) of the College of Education Studies (CES) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has hosted a three-day academic development programme designed to enhance research skills and academic competitiveness among graduate students and faculty members.
The event featured a distinguished guest speaker, Prof. Emmanuel Acquah from Åbo Akademi University, Finland, who led impactful sessions on thesis and proposal writing for graduate students. The students were taken through critical aspects of academic writing, including identifying research gaps, formulating titles aligned with research goals, and structuring thesis content effectively.
"Do not waste your time. Always find out the goal of your research before deciding the title," Prof. Acquah advised, highlighting the importance of purposeful academic inquiry. He further emphasised the need for students to "always identify a gap when writing your thesis,".
The final day of the programme was dedicated to training faculty members on the theme, “Becoming a Competitive Academic.” Sessions focused on essential academic practices such as publishing in high-impact journals, securing competitive research funding, integrating research into teaching, and generating societal and community impact.
Participants in the workshop
Participants also received guidance on manuscript preparation for peer-reviewed journals, including how to craft effective titles, abstracts, and keyword strategies, as well as organising their work according to international publication standards.
The Acting Provost of CES, Prof. Douglas D. Agyei, addressing participants, indicated that the programme was part of a broader collaboration between UCC and Åbo Akademi University in Finland, which also includes student and staff exchange initiatives.
The first cohort of lecturers has visited Abo Akademi University. The second and third cohorts, comprising lecturers and students, respectively, are scheduled for August and September 2025.
Faculty leadership expressed optimism that such partnerships and training initiatives would contribute significantly to strengthening the research culture and academic output of UCC.
Dr. Patience Danquah Monnie, the Vice Dean of the Faculty, encouraged participants to make the most of such capacity-building opportunities.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC