A two-day summit to discuss leadership and literacy has been held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The event, which was on the theme "Empowering Visionary leaders, Transforming Education, and Shaping the Future", was attended by participants, mainly academics, politicians, and students, as well as virtual participants.
The summit, organised by UCC in collaboration with Legacy Library, USA, discussed topics including technology integration and cybersecurity, literacy and the science of reading, Artificial Intelligence, students with disabilities, and educational leadership.
Delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony, Dr. Gary Walker-Roberts, from the National University, USA, said leaders must demonstrate empathy, honesty, accountability, and trustworthiness.
He said people must find in the educational leaders a model of respect, trust, reliability, fairness, and consistency.
According to him, a clear and strategic vision for transformation was essential to driving meaningful change in the education system.
Dr. Gary Walker-Roberts from the National University, USA
He insisted that AI plays a vital role in transforming education by providing personalised learning experiences tailored to individual student needs.
He said AI platforms allowed students to receive customized lessons, practice materials, and feedback, enhancing their understanding of subjects at their own pace.
He advised students to use their social media handles responsibly and not to use them to spread fake news.
The CEO of Legacy Library, Dr. Gigi Darko, in her speech, said literacy remained one of the transformative tools that empower humanity to take advantage of opportunities.
She urged parents to provide a better literacy learning environment for children to improve and sharpen their learning skills for a brighter future.
Dr. Darko said that in a world where knowledge is power, books are the key that unlock endless possibilities, and the spirit of reading and learning should be inculcated in children at a tender age.
CEO of Legacy Library, USA, Dr. Gigi Darko
She further indicated that the gift of literacy was a treasure that had the potential to change lives and shape a brighter future for all.
She added that by sharing the gift of literacy, one would sow the seed of unity, understanding and empowerment, and urged the public to support initiatives that promote education and to be ambassadors of hope in a world that often feels divided.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Aheto, who chaired the event, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration between the UCC and the Legacy Library, USA.
He urged cross-pollination of ideas that could inform policy and shape educational policies.
A section of participants in the leadership summit
“As a university, through our Vice-Chancellor, we are also committed to implementing the outcomes of this summit. We will ensure that lessons learnt are integrated into our leadership training programmes and community outreach activities,” he said.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC