UCC, AU Hold Colloquium on Outreach

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Auburn University, USA, have held a day's colloquium to solicit views on how the two universities can embark on outreach programmes to assist communities they found themselves. The colloquium created the platform for the two institutions to learn from each other about issues and challenges associated with outreach programmes and to help improve on the quality of outreach services rendered to their respective countries. The Vice-President for University Outreach and Associate Provost, Auburn University, Dr. Royrickers Cook, who spoke on Maximizing University Industry Relation: The AU Experience ", said that his job at AU is to facilitate the connection of AU to the world. Dr. Cook said that AU had a special unit that focuses on outreach in industrial relations in communities in Alabama, where the University is situated. The Provost said with Outreach, AU is concerned with every single aspect of the University.As a result, he observed that faculty members working with the College of Education have been doing extensive research on industrial techniques that would improve teachers' ability to teach well in the classroom. He noted that the School of Nursing in AU trains nurses to work across the States to provide quality healthcare for the citizenry. Dr. Cook said that AU also provides training for Alabama state revenue collectors on how to collect taxes. Also, he pointed out that AU trains city managers to better manage their cities well, among other outreach programmes done by the University in Alabama, in particular, and USA, in general. Taking his turn on the topic" Outreach Initiatives and Opportunities in UCC," the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, said that UCC has been embarking on outreach programmes to generate income to sustain the University. He noted that, as a result, UCC goes outside its purview to reach out to the communities and generate income from them to sustain the activities of the University. Touching on Research, Prof. Ampiah said UCC had involved in outreach through the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) by providing consultancy for ministries, departments and agencies to generate income for the University. He mentioned that UCC also has broadcasting station that runs the University’s programmes and also runs adverts for individuals and companies within Cape Coast as part of income generation drive. The Vice-Chancellor mentioned that the Kindergarten, Primary School, Junior High School and the University Hospital provide services to staff of the University and the general public which also serve as a source of revenue for the institution. He said that UCC had established University Enterprises Limited to generate income for the University. Prof. Ampiah further mentioned the Water Production Unit where water is produced and sold and added that the University had partnered Ghana Oil (GOIL) to put up a fuel station to serve the citizenry in and outside the community as part of “monetary outreach". He said University was mentoring other university colleges to build their capacities.The Vice-Chancellor said the Institute of Education mentors 46 Colleges of Education in terms of certification, curriculum and their assessment to generate income. Prof. Ampiah also said that UCC was reaching out to the populace through its Sandwich and Distance Education programmes. " We are reaching out to many people who don't want to leave their work places or who cannot afford to leave their work places but still want to study. We use this to reach out to these people and also generate income for our University", the Vice-Chancellor said. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T Oduro, moderated the event, which was held at the Institute of Education Conference Room.