The University of Cape Coast has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Affiliation Agreement with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-College of Science and Technology (CSIR-CST) to seal the relationship between the two institutions.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah described the relationship between UCC and CSIR-CST as mutually beneficial. He said the signing ceremony would officially give recognition to the relationship which had been in existence for the past five years. “Though we have been working for the past yearS, it is extremely important to sign the MoU to cement our relationship and make progress” he expressed.
UCC's Services to Affiliate Institutions
Prof. Ampiah indicated that UCC continued to earn a positive reputation in institutional mentorship as a result of the quality of services the University had been offering to its affiliate institutions. “Some Universities will never visit the institutions they are mentoring but we have decided to send our lecturers to assist our affiliate institutions to adopt quality assessment” he explained.
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the collaboration was on a win-win basis; hence it was important for both institutions to share expertise and resources. Therefore, Prof. Ampiah was optimistic that CSIR-CST would also share some of their state-of-the-art research laboratories to enable lecturers and students to carry out research. He noted that UCC would also continue to fulfill its responsibilities by offering the best of services to CSIR-CST.
UCC's Impact on CSIR-CST
On his part, the President of CSIR-CST, Prof. Mark Appiah, said his institution had benefitted immensely from its collaboration from UCC. Prof. Appiah noted that though he assumed duty in March this year, he had witnessed the significant impact UCC had made on CSIR-CST.
Prof. Appiah used the opportunity to ask UCC to assist CSIR-CST to become an autonomous institution because it had diligently complied with the mentorship procedures as well as the National Accreditation Board (NAB) standards. “UCC has to help us towards the path of autonomy considering the vast expertise and resources we have at CSIR-CST,” he added.
UCC's Role in the Establishment of CSIR-CST
The Vice-President of CSIR-CST, Rev. Prof. Hans Adu-Dapaah, said the Vice-Chancellor had personally played a crucial role in the establishment of the College and therefore, he has been invited to grace the graduation of the pioneer students in July this year. “The journey to establish CSIR-CST has been a tortuous one but under your chairmanship at NAB, we got our accreditation and also as Vice-Chancellor of our mentor institution, we are graduating our pioneer students” he stressed. He further indicated that “It will be recorded that he was among a group of Ghanaians who were forward-looking and spearheaded the establishment of CSIR-CST”. He said CSIR research laboratories at the various stations in the country were open to UCC lecturers and students.
Present at the signing ceremony, were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh; Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff T. Onyame; Acting Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum. Others were the Senior Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Georgina Asi Owusu, and Assistant Registrar, Institutional Affiliation Office, Mr. Justice K. G. Boateng and Assistant Registrar of CSIR-CST, Mr. Deishonim Baah-Koranteng.