A matriculation ceremony has been held for fresh students of the College of Distance Education (CoDE) in the Middle Zone of Ghana.
The Middle Zone comprises Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions of Ghana. Also present at the ceremony were fresh students from Sefwi Wiawso, Sefwi Debiso, Bibiani and Dunkwa-on-Offin study centres.
Addressing the matriculants at the Baaba Yara stadium in Kumasi, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, congratulated the fresh students on gaining admission into the University of Cape Coast. “My cherished matriculants count yourselves fortunate for being among the applicants who have been admitted to pursue various programmes of study by the distance mode,” he added.
Prof Ampiah reminded them of the realities of enrolling on a distance education programme and urged them to set their priorities right in order to successfully complete their respective programmes of study. “Combining work and family life with studies is quite hectic and exacting but if you are poised for success this should not be an insurmountable task since others have managed to sail through,” he advised. He encouraged them to plan their life and time well in order to prepare adequately to pass their quizzes and examinations.
The Vice-Chancellor said five new study centres had been opened in Kasoa, Nsawam, Sefwi Juaboso, Nkawie and Ada whilst 14 existing study centres that were hitherto running diploma programmes had been upgraded to run the post diploma programmes in addition. He noted that all these were geared towards making university education accessible to those who needed them and to help execute the development agenda to transform the country.
In terms of the programmes of study, the Vice-Chancellor said postgraduate programmes; especially Education had been expanded to include the research component. “The College now admits students into M.Phil Administration in Higher Education and M.Phil in Measurement and Evaluation,” he explained. He also indicated that there were plans to enable students who performed very well in their MBA programmes to progress to do the M. Com in their areas of specialisation.
On management of student records, the Vice-Chancellor said information of all students of UCC including that of CoDE students were being migrated to the University of Cape Coast Online Student Information System (UCCOSIS). According to the Vice-Chancellor, the UCCOSIS was to ensure efficiency, uniformity and timely receipt of results by students. “Registration of courses and all other academic information required are to be done online by the students within the time frame provided by the University,” he noted.
For the 2017/2018 academic year the College admitted a total of 17, 182 applicants to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the distance mode in various disciplines. The figure is made up of 15, 780 undergraduates and 1, 402 postgraduate students, consisting of 9, 234 males and 7, 948 females. The percentage for undergraduate admission is 53.2% for males and 46.8% for females.
The matriculation oath was administered by the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Teye Onyame.
Present at the ceremony were the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Koawo Edjah; Head, Department of Education, Prof. Emmanuel K. Gyimah; Head of Admissions, Prof. (Mrs) Josephine Sam Tagoe; Head, Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, Prof Daniel Agyapong.
Others were Coordinator of Student Support Services, CoDE, Dr Felix Kumedzro; Head of Assessment, CoDE Dr. Benjamin Eduafo Arthur, Regional Resident Tutors and Centre Coordinators in the Middle Zone.