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UCC to Get Centre of Excellence for Food Safety, Fraud and Research Centre

26 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Queen’s University Belfast (QU), Ireland and the University of Cape Coast for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Food Safety, Fraud and Research Centre to be hosted by the School of Agriculture.   The Centre which will be hosted in the School of Agriculture of the University of Cape Coast would be the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa with the core mandate of ensuring that food items produced in the country as well as those imported and exported are safe for human consumption.   This was disclosed by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor,  Prof. George K. T. Oduro, who signed the MoU on behalf of UCC with officials of Queen’s University during a summit that brought together 650 participants from various organisations and academic institutions across the world, including the World Bank in Ireland. “When the MoU is operationalized, UCC will become the hub for building capacity in food safety, security and fraud research in sub-Saharan African” Prof. Oduro noted.   Speaking at the Summit, Prof. Oduro explained the importance of food security in Africa and the need for the establishment of the Centre to eradicate poverty and hunger on the continent and also ensure that the food produced was of high quality. He pointed out that there were food safety issues affecting sub-Saharan African including Ghana, however, there was lack of technology to addressing them, stressing that “The contamination is identified only when it gets to the consumer”   Prof. Oduro emphasised that “This makes the establishment of the Centre very innovative initiative which will project the University, especially when it is the first of its kind in Africa”. He, therefore, indicated that UCC has a very functioning School of Agriculture with a strong focus on extension services through the support of Sasakawa International Foundation.   Reacting to Prof Oduro’s presentation, the Provost of the Faculty of Medicine Health and Life Sciences, Prof. Chris Elliot, expressed appreciation to UCC for sending a representative to the summit and also signing the MoU. He noted that “QU does not only select any university as partners for projects and once an MoU is signed, it must be translated into reality”.   Prof.  Elliot who is also the founder of the Institute for Global Food Security in Queens University  indicated that they carefully selected UCC after examining the programmes, and also interacted with Dr. Ernest Teye, a lecturer from the School of Agriculture, whose work had been well appreciated. He gave the assurance that they would do everything possible to ensure that the MoU became a reality.   Prof. Elliot also said that the MoU would not only be limited to the Centre of Excellence but extended to cover other Colleges, Faculties, Schools, Institutes and Departments in UCC. As a follow-up to the MoU, a delegation from QU would visit UCC to interact with Management and faculty in the various colleges to explore other areas for collaboration.   Prof. Elliot said Northern Ireland for some time now had not been opened to other regions adding “that makes it a prime initiative that will lay a solid foundation for sustained collaboration”. According to Prof. Oduro, there were about 60 Nigerian delegates at the summit who expressed interest and volunteered to send their students for training when the UCC Centre of Excellence becomes operational.  

Administration

Workshop on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People Ends with Round Table Discussion

26 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

The workshop on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People has ended with stakeholders calling for the need to intensify education on sexual reproductive and rights of Young People.

Among the issues discussed were the mandates and the core objectives of the various bodies they represented at the workshop and their main activities relating to sexual and reproductive health of young people. Others were interventions developed and implemented by these bodies and their outcomes, and the sister institutions they do partner with.

The District School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator at Apam, Mrs. Asher Aba Quansah, said SHEP was a health education programme that provided health education to school children. Mrs. Quansah noted that her outfit trained teachers, children and community leaders for effective implementation of school health programmes as well as developing appropriate information, education and communication materials. They also promote habits and values of good hygiene and sanitation practices including hand washing with soap. “We also educate the children to avoid drug, alcohol, and premarital sex. That is why we talk about abstinence”, she added.

Speaking at the workshop, Sergeant Emmanuel Hubada, noted that, formerly, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) was known as Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) which largely took care of women and children suffering from domestic violence but they later realised that men were being marginalized leading to the change in the name to DOVVSU. He stated that the mandate of DOVVSU was to protect the rights of women and children, arrest and prosecute perpetrators and also advise the general public on crime prevention.

He also stated that as part of their functions, they investigate all women and children related cases involving children in the domestic setting, juvenile cases, and child abuse cases among others. “DOVVSU, we are more or less gender based people. We don’t discriminate against men or women. We handle all cases involving the domestic setting be it male or female”, he added.

The DOVVSU official indicated that their major challenge was gathering of evidence and age determination for defilement cases and pointed out that they usually relied on birth certificates or weighing cards for proof of age and medical forms and in some cases witnesses.  Sergeant Hubada said that without these documents doctors could not help as they (doctors) only give the range of the age of the victims instead of their specific ages.

The Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Mrs. Thywill Eyra Kpe, said there was the need for collaboration between the Birth and Death Registry for effective record keeping which would facilitate the determination of ages.

Speaking on the role of medical doctors, Dr. Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, of the UCC School of Medical Sciences, stated that doctors only describe their findings. She lamented that sometimes victims came to the hospital several weeks after the incident making gathering of medical evidence difficult and added that there was the need for public education.

Explaining the mandate of CHRAJ, the Assistant Registrar of CHRAJ, Raphael Mike Ocran, stated that it was established in 1992 by an Act of parliament and started official operation in 1993.

Mr. Ocran stated that it is a human right institution and handles anti-corruption cases, violation of fundamental human rights, and administrative injustice. He noted that their objective was to promote human right and protect freedom of citizens. He explained that CHRAJ does not deal with sexual right abuse issues but hand them over to the DOVVSU since they were criminal cases. He further stated that CHRAJ only mediated between victims and perpetrators but does not prosecute. “l think we are missing out on a lot of things.Both parents and teachers are not doing enough. We are too pretentious”, he lamented about the sexual and reproductive health and rights education of young people.

The  participants included the Municipal (SHEP) Coordinator for Komenda, Edina, Eguafo, Abirem (KEEA), Joyce Amuesiwah, Metropolitan SHEP Coordinator for Cape Coast, Rose Amoah, District SHEP Coordinator for Apam, Asher Aba Quansah, Inspector Hannah Kuyole and Sergeant Emmanuel Hubada of DOVVSU-Cape Coast, Assistant Registrar of CHRAJ, Raphael Mike Ocran, the District Director of Health Service –Ajumako Enyan Esiam District, Doris Ahelegbe, the District Director of Health Service – Abura Asebu Kwamankese District, Gifty Ankrah, Michael Tagoe of PPAG, Cape Coast and the Advocacy Manager – Mariestopes International, Ghana, Godfred Bonnah Nkansah.

Credit: Henordzi Junior (intern)

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UCC Matriculates Sandwich Students

25 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

A total of 2,687 fresh students have been admitted to pursue various programmes at the University for the 2017/2018 Sandwich year.

 Out of this number, 1,865 are postgraduate students and the remaining 822 are pursuing undergraduate programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, administered the matriculation oath to the students and reminded them that UCC like any other university the world over has rules and regulations that must be obeyed. “These rules and regulations have been codified in the following Students handbook, Academic Programmes, Policies and Regulations and Brochure on Graduate Studies”, he explained.

Prof. Ampiah said: “I wish to emphasis that these rules and regulations have not been designed with punitive intent, rather with objective of ensuring that you are well guided to make the best out of your time on campus”. The Vice-Chancellor told the students that adherence to the rules and would enable them pursue their courses in peace and comfort adding that the University would continue to maintain zero tolerance to all forms of anti-social behaviours such as cultism, examination malpractices, hooliganism and other social vices. “Any activity that will constitute a threat to the peace of this noble institution will be dealt with in accordance with the University rules and regulations”, he emphasized.

Prof. Ampiah encouraged them to attend all their lectures and write quizzes since that would go a long way to ensure their participation in final examination. “Seventy-five percent attendance on lectures required for you to take part in end of semester examination. Also, continuous assessment constitutes 40% of your total score the courses you take in the University”, he said.

Prof. Ampiah advised them to take their studies seriously so they could complete their course and go out and help solve problems of the society, thereby contributing to national development. He urged the students to be careful of the environment from which they bought food. “Although the semester promises to be very busy, please spend some time to cook your own food if you can. As you are aware, the rains have set in, and this is the period where there is possible outbreak of cholera”, he advised.

Administration
The exchange pupils and headteachers of the University Basic Schools with the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Kwamina Duncan

Explore Avenues of Creating Jobs after National Service-Prof. Oduro

25 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor,Prof. George K. T. Oduro, has called on National Service Personnel who were posted to the University of Cape Coast for the 2017/2018 academic year to explore avenues of creating jobs for themselves after their national service period.

Prof. Oduro said the high rate of unemployment situation in the country demanded that they should not cast all their hopes on the government for job opportunities. “If any one of you have any skills, find a way of liaising with other colleagues so you can set up a small company and start something” he advised. He cited some graduates of UCC who has established their own businesses and making life out of it after their studies.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor gave the advice when he addressed the Service Personnel at the Send-Off Programme organized by the Directorate of Human Resource. The total number of National service personnel posted to UCC for the 2017/2018 academic year was 1, 059.

Prof. Oduro urged them to also explore avenues for scholarships to upgrade themselves, especially those who do not have plans of working immediately after the national service. He advised them to make good use of the experience they had acquired during the service period, so that they could justify their worth they secure job opportunities in the near future.  Prof. Oduro expressed gratitude to them on behalf of the University Management and wished them well in their future endeavours. He congratulated them on their selfless service to the University in particular and the nation in general.

Mr. Edward Kwame Tenadu, who spoke on behalf of the National Service Personnel thanked the University Management for the opportunity to contribute towards the development of the University. He appealed to management to provide healthcare package and accommodation to National Service Personnel posted to the University. He further asked the University to liaise with the Nation Builders Corps  (NABCO) Secretariat to discuss the possibility of maintaining some of the National Service Personnel in UCC.

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The exchange pupils and headteachers of the University Basic Schools with the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Kwamina Duncan

Virtual University of Cote d’Ivoire Explores Areas of Collaboration with UCC

25 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

A delegation from the Virtual University of Cote d’Ivoire has paid a working visit to the University to explore possible areas of collaboration.

The delegation was made up of Prof. Mian Bi Sehi Antoine, Prof. Fernand K. Kouame and Mr. Bakouan Mamadou.

Introducing the delegation, the Director of Information Communication Technology Services, Dr. Regina Gyampoh, said she met the officials of UVCI at a conference in Lome, Togo and through interaction, they expressed interest in collaborating with UCC to share best practices and experiences. 

Making a presentation Prof. Kouame said VUCI was set up as a result of the national initiatives based on ECOWAS reforms on Higher Education. He indicated that there was a national decree on the adoption, application and the organization of the Bachelor, Master and PhD curricula. He said the reforms were aimed at setting up a digital environment by reducing the high pressure on space and infrastructure and also promote internationalization agenda of public universities in Cote d’Ivoire.

These development he noted, led to the establishment of VUCI in 2015. He said the aims of the University included providing face-to-face teaching in developing the opportunities of distance learning and the production of digital resource as well as integrate Information Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching and research process. 

Prof. Kouame said the University has a total of 6, 500 students pursuing Computer Science with six specialties through distance learning. He said the current students were made up of the first and second batches admitted since the inception of the University.

According to Prof. Kouame, the visit was intended to explore opportunities to improve and extend its programme and also establish a partnership with UCC in the area of Distance Learning. He further said the collaboration would include mobility of students and lecturers and joint research work.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, commended VUCI for identifying UCC for collaboration and noted that UCC was open for mutually beneficial collaborations. He said UCC was also putting in place measures to integrate ICT into its distance learning programmes noting that “this is an opportunity to also learn how you also use technology to deliver lessons to your students”

Prof. Ampiah said UCC has been hosting French students from some francophone countries in Africa including Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo for English Proficiency Course adding that “Our students also spend a full academic year in Togo and Cote d’Ivoire so we can easily work this out to benefit the two institutions”

The Vice-Chancellor proposed the setting up of a technical team comprising members of the two institutions to work out the modalities for the collaboration after which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) could be signed for implementation.

Present at the meeting were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro; Registrar, Mr. Kofi Nyan; Provost, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Livingstone K. Amoah; Provost, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh; Provost College of Education Studies, Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot; Provost, College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong.

Others were the Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Ernest L. Okorley; Prof. John Nelson Buah of the College of Distance Education; Dean, Centre for International Education, Prof. Rosemond Boohene; Director, Centre for Teaching Support, Prof. Douglas Agyei; Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Onyame; Ag. Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum and Rev. Isaac Baafi Sarbeng.

Administration

African Youth Festival Held at UCC

25 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

The first African Youth Festival has been opened at the University by the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L. K. Sam-Amoah, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah.   The festival attracted over 1,000 youth from across Africa in this maiden youth festival which was organised by the Full Gospel Business Men International. The fellowship hitherto, was attended mainly by elderly men to share in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This move is to ensure the continuous growth and sustainability of the FGBMI to draw the youth into the saving knowledge of Christ. Some of the participants for the Festival came from Honduras, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Togo.   Welcoming the delegates, Prof. Ampiah said UCC was one of the best universities along the Atlantic Ocean which sought to train students with the requisite skills needed to solve societal problems and make informed decisions for a successful living in the 21st Century.   Prof. Ampiah indicated that, he was delighted that the youth who formed about 60% of the African population were gathering to think about something positive, since they were endowed with vision, energies, talents and goals. However, he noted that most of the youth were confronted with issues such as social vices, unemployment, drug and substance abuse and the risk to get rich quickly. These he said, exerted pressure on the youth to seek direction in life. Added to this, he indicated was the addiction to social media even with some seeking guidance and counseling from the internet.   Prof. Ampiah endorsed the theme for the festival which is “1 Direction” saying “Obviously, Christ truly provides the true direction to all human quests in life. He is the way, the truth and the life”. He said nations in Africa and indeed the world were looking for men and women of integrity who would champion the cause of real development devoid of greed and corruption. “I believe the spirit-filled Christian has the ability to demonstrate to the world that, this is possible. So, Jesus is counting on you not to let our countries down”, he urged the participants.   The national president of FGBMI, Mr. George Prah, said the festival has been a dream for a long time and has now come true.  He said, as a fellowship, the FGBMI has passion for the youth to develop their interests in the word of God and follow Christ. The national president said, the fellowship has recognized that the future belonged to the youth, so it was bringing them together to learn and share their understanding and faith in God. He urged the youth to focus on Christ no matter where they came from since the future would be good for them. “Recognise that our tomorrow will be better than our today, so we need to point Africa to one direction only, which is Jesus”, he said.       

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The exchange pupils and headteachers of the University Basic Schools with the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Kwamina Duncan

Management & Student Leadership Strategise to Ensure a Conducive Academic Environment on Campus

24 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

Management of the University and Student Leadership has been held the second retreat for the 2017/2018 academic year in Takoradi.

The three-day retreat was aimed at reviewing activities of the University since the last retreat in February; and also outline measures that would help provide a conducive academic environment for members of the University Community.

Presenting a report on the feedback of resolutions of the previous management and students’ leadership retreat held on February 2018, the Chairman of the Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of Management and Student Leadership Retreat, Dr. Eugene Darteh, said Departments/Units/Sections had taken steps to address most of the issues raised at the previous retreat. He however, recommended that specific timelines must be put in place, supported by budget to achieve the resolutions of subsequent retreats. He noted that this measures would help to improve the academic and social lives of students and staff of the University.

As part of proceedings, there were presentations by the Dean of Students, Head of Security, Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Director of Health Services and Director of Academic Affairs. Presentations were also made by the Director of Information and Communications Technology, Director of Physical Development and Estate Management and Hall masters/warden of the various halls.  

Participants had opportunity to discuss the various presentations and came out with some resolutions at the end the retreat. The resolutions touched on strengthening security on campus; provision of quality ICT services; ensuring healthy environment in the halls and regular maintenance of University facilities.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro in his remarks commended the cordiality with which issues were discussed during Management and Student Leadership Retreat. He said the retreat would be his last as Pro-Vice-Chancellor since his term of office ends in December, 2018.

Prof. Oduro thanked Management and Student Leadership for the recognition accorded him during the past three years retreat. He recommended that the retreat should continue to be organised to foster close collaboration between Management and Student Leadership to transform UCC as the University of Competitive Choice.

In his closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, commended participants for being decorous in their contributions to the issues discussed at the retreat. He urged all the heads in-charge of the various issues raised at the retreat to work towards address them as early as possible.

The team of University Management comprised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah; the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G. K. T. Oduro; the Registrar, Mr. J. K. Nyan; the Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese;  Provost, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L. K. Sam-Amoah,; Provost, College of Education Studies, Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot, Provost; College of Distance Educationa, Prof. Isaac Galyuon. Other members of management were, Representative of the Provost, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Francis Eric Amuquandoh; Representative of the Provost, College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Joojo Eghan

The rest included some directors of directorates, heads of the various hall of residence, the Dean and Vice-Dean of Students’ Affairs, the Head of Security; JCRC Presidents of the various halls of residence; Past and Current Presidents of the Student Representative Council, Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana - UCC Chapter and Distance Education Students Association of Ghana.

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Newly-Elected Student Leaders Receive Training

24 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

A three-day workshop has been held for the newly-elected student leaders for the 2018/2019 academic year to equip them to function effectively in their respective leadership roles.   The workshop organised by the Office of the Dean of Students’ Affairs, was aimed at training the student leaders on Public Sector Financial Management and other student’s leadership issues.   The workshop was attended by executives of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Graduate Students Association (GRASAG), Local Branch of National Union of Ghana Students, and Junior Common Room Council of the various halls.    Topics treated at the workshop were Developing an Annual Action Plan based on a Strategic Plan, Public Fund Management, Risk Management, Daily Checks and Inspection, Pre-Audit Procedures and Management of a Value Book Register, Payment Voucher (Imprest), Special Advance, Journal Voucher and Cheques, Preparation of a Cashbook and Bank Reconciliation Statement, Ledgers and Final Accounts   Other topics included Assets Management Practices in UCC, Grooming and Leadership in Tertiary Institutions, Understanding Activities of Public Affairs as a Student Leader, Time Management and Student Leaders, Dispute and Disciplinary Issues among Student Leaders, Student Governance in the SRC/Halls-Collective Accountability Issues, Preparation of a Procurement Plan and the Procurement Process for Contracts and Channels of Communication.      

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Workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People held on Campus

21 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

A workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People has been held at the Institute of Education Conference Hall.

 The three-day workshop was under the theme “Legal and Policy Arrangement on Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People.”

Explaining the rationale for the workshop, the Head of Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Sebastian Eliason, said it was to deepen the understanding of participants and stakeholders on the issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people.  

 A senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Dr. (Mrs.) Georgina Oduro, took participants through issues that bothered on social norms or values vis-à-vis sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people. The discussion covered matters such as sexual offences and their legal and cultural interpretations, sexual and reproductive rights, national level support system among others.

 She said girls should be in-charge of their bodies and have rights to determine when to have sex. “They have rights to understand their bodies and the changes it goes through as well as consequences of any decisions and actions they take”, she said.

 Touching on sexual offences, Dr. Oduro noted that child marriages deprive girls of choices, consent, power and full dependency adding that this has inherent health risk both physical and mental. She explained that prostitution by children and adolescents challenge the cultural and protective values nurtured. It further challenges the notion of childhood innocence, especially in cultures where virginity was treasured, she said.   

 Participants lamented about the fact that though the Ghanaian culture frowned upon these practices, custodians of the culture sought to cover them in the name of protecting the honour and the image of the families and the victims involved.

Credit: Henordzi Junior      

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School of Graduate Studies Holds 4th International Conference for Postgraduate Students

19 Jun, 2018 By louis Mensah

The 4th International Conference for Postgraduate students has taken place at the University with a call on universities to innovate to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous educational programmes and strategies.

In a speech read on his behalf at the opening by the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L. K. Sam-Amoah, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, said research was central to the work of a university since it reinforced teaching and learning and provided solutions to problems of society. To this end, the Vice-Chancellor indicated that the University continue to place great emphasis on research through the development and support for masters and doctoral research programmes.

Prof. Ampiah explained that the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) was established with the mandate to co-ordinate research, innovation and consultancy in the University. According to him, the future progress of Ghana and Africa depended on the contributions of the graduates that were currently produced.

“It means that to respond to the emerging socio-economic challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, the education we offer must be visionary and future-oriented”, he stressed.

He said in the current changing world, attending a research conference has become a ‘must’ to survive in an academic discipline geared to produce and share knowledge and solve societal problems.

In this light, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the University would continue to strengthen its research and conference funds to support students and faculty to attend such important conferences.

Delivering the keynote address, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, said challenges facing nations globally have become complex. For that matter, he said nations were exploring ways of coping with climate change, diseases, conflicts, nuclear threats, over population, cyber fraud, social injustice, illiteracy, poverty, gender discrimination and corruption, adding “the situation in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly, in Ghana is not different”.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor intimated that, the continent’s ability to cope with such complex challenges depended largely on the extent to which postgraduate education offered by tertiary education institutions meet the demands and aspirations of a particular nation.  In view of that, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor called on African universities to consider doing things differently in the area of postgraduate education.

“The complexities of developmental challenges facing the Sub-region in the 21st century, demands new ways of delivering postgraduate education”, he stated.

Prof. Oduro further said that the new wind blowing across the globe suggested clearly that “any university that runs postgraduate programmes that do not impact on industry cannot be said to be meeting the demands of the 21st Century University.” For that reason, he said most universities in the western world were strongly linking contents of postgraduate programmes and focus of postgraduate research to the needs of industry. “Postgraduate programmes are geared towards providing solutions to address particular needs of the society”, he said.

Prof. Oduro called for a paradigm shift to ensure that postgraduate studies impacted positively on industry. “Universities must move from the provision of one-discipline-indexed postgraduate programmes to inter-disciplinary programmes. Where possible, there should be an integrated approach to postgraduate studies because problems and challenges associated with the operations of industry or society in the 21st century requires multi-sectoral ideas and tools to address”.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor also called for licensing and patenting of intellectual properties of postgraduate work. This he believed could serve as an income generating venture for both students and the universities.

Presenting a paper on the topic: Mobilising Resources for Postgraduate Work: Human, Monetary and Materials, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, noted that the status of postgraduate education in the developing world particularly Ghana was not encouraging.

“This is an area that receives the least attention in developing countries. Ghana spends only 0.3% of GDP on Research and Development (R&D) far less than the recommended 1% of GDP as agreed upon by the African Union”, he bemoaned.

Prof. Anamuah-Mensah revealed that a 2012 study of 28 EU countries showed that “an increase in R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP by 1% would cause an increase of real GDP growth by 2.2%”. Explaining further, he said it meant that as countries invested more in R&D, that is in the creation and use of knowledge, their economies grew faster.

Unfortunately, he noted that “While developing countries based their economic growth largely on the creation and use of knowledge, developing countries depended mostly on raw natural material resources thereby leaving developing countries at the periphery of global knowledge production architecture”.

The theme for the conference was “Changing the Orientation of Postgraduate Education for the 21st Century”. The three-day conference was attended by lecturers, postgraduate students from various universities in the country and industry players.

 

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