Current and prospective students are encouraged to take advantage of the accommodation services provided in the University of Cape Coast for graduate studies. If you are unsure about the service, please contact the School of Graduate Office.
The Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has inaugurated Governing Councils for the University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies at a ceremony in Accra. Members of the UCC Governing Council include: Mrs Nancy Thompson - Government Nominee (Chairperson) Prof. Joseph Ampiah Ghartey - Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tamimu Osman - Government Nominee Dr. Thomas Agyarko - Poku: Government Nominee Dr. Mrs Ernestina Freduah-Antoh - Government Nominee Dr. Edem Amenumey: - Convocation (Non-Professorial) Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng - University Teachers Association of Ghana (President) Mr. Tony Henry Arthur - Students’ Representative Council Benjamin Sundeme - Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana Mr. Stephen Williams - Teachers & Educational Workers Union Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah - National Council for Tertiary Education Mrs. Cecilia Kwakye Coffie - Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools Mr. Gorkel Obro-Adibo - Representative of UCC Alumni Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Prempeh implored the three governing councils that they were required by law to ensure the implementation of the aims of their respective universities; determine their strategic direction and, monitor and evaluate policy implementation. He also charged them to promote income-generating activities as part of the University's programme; control the finances of the University and, determine the allocation and proper use of funds. According to the Minister for Education, the Governing Council of each of the universities is to ensure the creation of equal opportunity for members of their respective universities without regard to ethnicity, sex, race, religious belief or political affiliation. Dr. Prempeh said consistent with the reform agenda of the government, the Ministry of Education has embarked on the review of the legal, institutional and regulatory framework to properly outline their functions and strengthen their mandate to perform efficiently. The Minister also called on universities in the country to position themselves appropriately to increase the admission of Senior High Schools as a result of the implementation of the free SHS policy by the government. The Minister congratulated members of the Governing Council and assured them of government’s commitment towards promoting tertiary education in the country as a means of equipping citizens with the tools vital for national development. Present were the Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Prof. Salifu Mohammed.
A two-week summer school on the theme " Land Use And Mobile Livelihood: Intersectional Perspectives on Pastoralism, Migration and Displacement" has been opened at UCC . The Summer school is jointly organised by the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), and the Theologische Hochschule Friednsau, Germany. Addressing the participants at the official opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, commended CEGRAD for organising the Summer school to enhance the image of the University internationally. He expressed optimism that the summer would afford participants the requisite knowledge to develop themselves socially and intellectually. He called on the participants to form networks for their future endeavours. Prof. Ampiah explained that many Africans depend on land for their livelihoods. According to him, land problems in Africa are gendered in nature.For instance, he said, women access lands through the consent of their husbands and other male relatives. The Vice-Chancellor commended participants from the University of Cape Coast for taking keen interest in the summer school. The Director of CEGRAD, Prof. Akua O. Britwum, encouraged participants to cooperate with one another to make the programme a success.She announced a planned field trip to offer participants the opportunity to get acquainted with land politics and resettlement in Ghana and apply some of the theoretical knowledge attained. An international collaborator from the Theologische Hochschule Friedensau, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schutltz, in a short address, noted that lands in Africa were under immense pressure due to mining, prospecting for oil and other natural resources. She said that the summer school would afford participants mainly PhD and post doctoral fellows the opportunity to also brainstorm on power and gender relations.Prof. Schultz urged participants to socialize and network one another for the future. For her part the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Dora Edu Buandoh, who chaired the opening ceremony, urged participants to think deeply about land use and mobile livelihoods to help the development of their respective countries.She advised participants to accommodate divergent views from one another. Prof. Edu-Buandoh said, " it is very important for us to engage with other participants and facilitators because we come from different countries, different backgrounds and different experiences." She further said" So to enrich ourselves, to enrich our cultures, to enrich our understanding of our own world, we should value what we share with every participant, which is we should make time to engage with other participants." As part of the Summer School, CEGRAD will organise a public lecture where renowned feminist scholars will address the general public on the theme " Research mobile livelihoods and the land crisis: intersectionality and feminist approaches." There were fraternal messages from some Heads of Department under the College of Humanities and Legal Studies.
The National Investment Bank (NIB) has donated a cheque for 15, 000 to support the Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) Alumni Homecoming. Presenting the cheque to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, the Cape Coast Branch Manager of NIB, Mr. John Kwame Fosu, said the bank received a request for sponsorship from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor to support the programme. He said though the request came late, they managed to organise the amount within the shortest possible time due to the bank’s long lasting relationship with the University. Mr. Fosu seized the opportunity to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor on his appointment and wished him well as he steers the affairs of the University. He assured the Vice-Chancellor that the NIB would not renege on its commitment to deepen its strong relationship with UCC. Receiving the cheque on behalf of IEPA, Prof. Ampiah thanked NIB for their swift response to the request. He was optimistic that relationship between the Bank and UCC would continue to open more avenues for the two parties to benefit from each other. The Cape Coast Manager of NIB was accompanied by Mrs. Queensland Elizabeth Nunoo, who is the Head of Marketing /Credit. Present were the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; Dr. Janet Koomson a lecturer at IEPA, Mrs. Alberta Konadu Owusu, Assistant Registrar, IEPA and Mrs. Georgina Asi Owusu, Senior Assistant, Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Department of Environmental Science has received donation of educational materials from two alumni of the University of Cape Coast. Dr. Charles Odame-Ankrah, an Atmospheric and Air Pollution Scientist, and Mrs. Odame-Ankrah who are currently domiciled in Calgary, Canada presented books, laboratory manuals and other teaching resources worth several thousands of US dollars from their partners in Canada. Dr. Charles Odame-Ankrah, an Atmospheric and Air Pollution Scientist, and Mrs. Odame-Ankrah also indicated their unflinching commitment to partner the Department of Environmental Science to position it as a citadel of academic excellence in the sub-region and beyond. In line with this commitment, Dr. Odame-Ankrah taught the Air Quality Management course in the Department of Environmental Science as pro bono last semester. Dr. Samuel Miledzi Agblorti of the Department of Population and Health, UCC, who facilitated the linkage of the Department of Environmental Science with the collaborators in Canada, made the presentation on behalf of Dr. and Mrs. Odame-Ankrah. Professor Hugh Komla Akotoye who received the donation on behalf of the Department, expressed profound gratitude to the donors for the kind gesture to their alma mater. He indicated that the Department was looking forward to a fruitful, intellectually stimulating and longstanding collaboration with the donors. Present at the ceremony were the Head of the Department of Environmental Science, Dr. Frederick Ato Armah, as well as faculty and staff including Mr. Paul K. Essandoh, Mr. Ernest K. A. Afrifa, Dr. David Oscar Yawson, Mrs. Gertrude Lucky Aku Dali, Mr. Isaac Mbir Bryant and Miss Augustina Ampah.
The University Junior High School (JHS) has celebrated its 30th anniversary and 17th Speech and Prize- Giving Day with a call on teachers and parents to help train children to perfectly fit into society in the face of technology advancement. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, who made the call, noted that with the proliferation of technology, children learn a lot of things by themselves through the usage of smart phones to readily access websites, emails and other social media networking sites. In the light of this development, Prof. Ampiah implored parents and teachers- who he referred to as the main agents of socialisation- to play their assigned roles effectively in moulding the children entrusted to their care, to become useful citizens. The Vice-Chancellor gave these admonishments in a speech read on his behalf by Prof. Ernest K. Davis, the Dean of School of Educational Development Outreach, during the 30th anniversary and 17th Speech and Prize- Giving Day of the UJHS. The anniversary was on the theme, "Moulding a Responsible Citizen Amidst Today's Technological Advancement." Prof. Ampiah further advised parents to inculcate good ethical and moral values of punctuality, responsiveness, diligence, and respect in their children. That, he stressed, could be achieved if parents adopt healthy lifestyles worthy of emulation. Speaking further, Prof. Ampiah urged teachers to remain steadfast in the war against the negative use of technology by children. The Vice-Chancellor again pointed out that if members of the teaching fraternity renege on their responsibility to train children to become respectful citizens, posterity would blame them for their (the teachers) unprofessional conduct. On her part, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Kate Frimpong, reported that the school has retained its enviable first position on the Cape Coast Metropolis Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) League Table. She pointed out that, "In 2016, our school 'A' maintained its first position, School 'B' placed 3rd, 'C' placed 6th, 'D' placed 10th while School 'E' took the 36th position out of 96 schools. " On Sports, she indicated that the school won two out of the five trophies at the 4th edition of the Public Universities' Basic Schools' Sports Festival held at Tarkwa. She catalogued some major challenges the school faces including inadequate infrastructure, lack of a school library and science laboratory, and poor student enrollment and staffing. Mrs. Frimpong also lauded past students of the School for their continuing support and urged them to be good ambassadors. The Headmistress paid glowing tribute to past headmasters, mistresses and members of staff of the school for their selfless service. The Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who was the Special Guest for the occasion, advised the students to abide by the school's rules and regulations and eschew bad company. Osabarima Kwesi Atta II asked the students to acknowledge God in all their ways so as to achieve academic excellence. He further encouraged the students to be proud of their culture and to discard the notion that foreign cultures are superior to the long-lived Ghanaian cultures. The 1990s and 2000s batches of the school's Old Students Association (UNIJOSA) donated some valuable items to the school, including a set of furniture, public address system and cash donations. Hardworking teachers and students of the school were presented with awards at the ceremony.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Kindergarten (KG) School has graduated a total of 222 pupils at the 2017 End of Year Activity and Graduation Ceremony. The graduating pupils received certificates of promotion to class one in the next academic year. The event was organised on the school's compound and was under the theme, "Becoming a Model Kindergarten in Cape Coast Metropolis through Adequate Childcare and Quality Teaching and Learning." The pupils performed cultural dance, poetry recitals, songs and choreography to entertain the audience at the ceremony. Speaking at the function, the Director of Legal, Consular and General Services (DLCGS) of the University of Cape Coast, Mr. Moses Abnory, who doubled as the Guest Speaker, congratulated the graduands on their successful completion of their kindergarten education. He praised the authorities of the school for moulding the lives of the pupils. Mr. Abnory underscored the relevance of education to the development of every nation adding that “it is imperative for parents to support the school to develop the social, physical and psychological needs of their wards”. He tasked the graduands to take their studies seriously so as to occupy higher positions in the country. He advised parents to provide their wards with the needed items and to visit them at school very often to know at first hand the needs and performance of their children. The Director gave the assurance that the University management would continue to assist the School and appealed to parents and old students to support the school in its quest to become a model Kindergarten in the Cape Coast Metropolis, through quality teaching and learning. Delivering her annual report, the Headteacher of the School, Ms. Adwoa Ewur, commended the graduands for their academic excellence. She entreated the graduating pupils to take their lessons seriously so as to enable them aspire to higher levels in life. Ms. Ewur thanked stakeholders for helping in the painting of some buildings in the school, a move which has helped the school to receive a major face lift. She mentioned the issues of perennial water shortage, inadequate play equipment, insufficient security and inadequate lightening as challenges facing the school. She thus appealed to parents and other stakeholders to assist the School with computers, science equipment and the renovation of the school's activity room to enhance teaching and learning. Climaxing the ceremony was a presentation of an award in honour of Ms. Janise Savage, who was retiring from the active teaching from the current academic year. Ms. Savage was honoured for her long service and dedication to duty to the school. The UCC KG currently has a student population of 399, comprising 164 boys and 175 girls.
The Department of Hospitality and Tourism (DHMT)of the University of Cape Coast has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly to position KEEA as a “Model Tourist Destination” in the country. The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Eric Amuquandoh, signed on behalf of the Department, whilst the Municipal Chief of KEEA, Nana Appiah Korang, signed for the Municipal Assembly. With the signing of the MoU, DHMT will provide technical advice for tourism and hospitality development and also develop tourism development policy mode and plan. The department will also conduct periodic scientific research on tourism for KEEA. In addition to this, DHMT would build tourism and hospitality management capacity for relevant stakeholders and establish a sustainable governance system that will ensure the viability of attractions and tourism in general. KEEA as a beneficiary of the services would also provide the necessary financial support and also appoint a schedule officer for Tourism to act as a liaison between the Assembly and DHMT. KEEA would also provide the necessary recognition, clearance and logistical support for staff of UCC to undertake activities in the agreement. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Amuquandoh said KEEA has a number of tourist sites with some of them untapped. Notably, he mentioned, amongst them are the fort and castles, first Catholic Cathedral, Dutch Cemetery, slave route, night beaches. Again, the Dean pointed out that towns like Elmina, Komenda and many others still have some traces of colonial heritage. Prof. Amuquandoh expressed excitement that the University of Cape Coast through the Department was partnering the Assembly to help provide quality services to tourists and also make the Municipality a tourist destination in the country. That, he stressed “can help create jobs, generate enough revenue for the Assembly and also bring development to the various towns in the municipality.” Prof. Amuquandoh noted that the Department would be conducting research and also engaging the assembly to adopt best practices that would boost tourism in the municipality, adding “good research impact positively on the society”. The Head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Prof. Kwaku A. Boakye, said the collaboration formed part of the Department’s community service to the Assembly. He lauded his predecessor, Dr. Edem Amenumey, for initiating the collaboration between the Department and the Assembly. He gave an assurance that the Dean and the Provost of College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh, were in full support of the partnership. Prof. Boakye added that the strategic location of KEEA along an international highway and the presence of world class hotels was a great opportunity which the two parties could easily package to attract more tourists to stay and spend more days in the municipality. He said the Department would conduct a “destination sweep” in all the communities in the municipality to identify other potential tourist attraction to guide the assembly in the development of these sites. On his part, the MCE of KEEA, Nana Appiah Korang expressed worry that the people in the municipality, especially Elmina was yet to benefit from the numerous tourist attractions around them. He observed that “while others communities have developed through tourism, our case is different, the level of poverty does not speak well of us so we need to do something to improve the standard of living of our people”. He was happy that the University has come on board to help the Assembly develop tourism in the municipality to attract more tourists from all over the world. Present at the signing ceremony were some lecturers of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism. The MCE of KEEA was also accompanied by some staff and members of the Tourism and Sanitation Sub-committee of the Assembly.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has indicated the University of Cape Coast’s commitment to strengthen its relationship with the University at Buffalo (UB) in the United States of America. Prof. Ampiah noted that the two universities had been working together through exchange of expertise, experience and best practices even though the relationship was yet to be formalized at the institutional level. Prof. Ampiah said this when he received two officials from UB who were at the UCC for a working visit. The visit was supported by the UB School of Management’s Dean, Professor Paul Tesluk as part of his strategic plan for the UB School of Management and encouraged by Vice Provost for University Libraries, Madam Austin Booth as part of her continued efforts towards global open access and resource sharing. The two officials were professor Dr. Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah (Clinical Assistant Professor) and Cynthia Tysick (Associate Librarian). Introducing the UB Team to the Vice Chancellor, a Research Fellow at Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), Dr. Mike Boakye-Yiadom thanked the Vice Chancellor for his support of the UCC-UB partnership, and encouraged the participating departments at UCC to invest in the programmes for the mutual benefit of the two institutions. The Vice-Chancellor commended UB’s School of Management and University Libraries for exhibiting keen interest in the collaboration adding, “UCC is ready to formalize its relationship with UB so that we can continue with the good work we have started.” He expressed confidence that both institutions would benefit immensely from the collaboration especially in the area of awarding joint certificates, exchange of faculty members and students. Briefing the Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of the visit, professor Dr. Siaw-Asamoah said they were currently working with the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA); School of Business (SoB) and the Sam Jonah Library. She explained that UB was introducing a year-long Leadership Development Programme to selected MBA and M. ED. Educational Administration Sandwich students in IEPA and SoB. As the facilitator of the course, she said UCC students taking the course as part of their respective programmes have been very phenomenal in terms of their appreciation of the topics and high level engagement. Dr. Siaw-Asamoah also assured the Vice-Chancellor that UB was prepared to partner with UCC to enhance the reputation and visibility of both institutions on the African continent and globally. She informed the Vice-Chancellor that faculty and students from UB have indicated their willingness to play active role in the collaboration. Dr. Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah highly commended Dr. Mike Boakye-Yiadom for being the brainchild of the UCC-UB partnership. On her part Madam Tysick said she had been interacting with staff of the Sam Jonah Library on how to improve of the services to the University Community. She said UB Library would continue to share best practices with UCC Sam Jonah Library in order to create visibility for the University. Mr. Kwame Boohene who was also present at the meeting said the interaction had been very helpful to staff of Sam Jonah Library especially in the area of customizing and marketing the services of the library to promote visibility for UCC. He prayed the good relationship that had begun between the two Universities would be sustained and improved upon. It would be recalled that Dr. Mara Huber, UB Associate Dean for Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning and Madam Cynthia Shore, Senior Assistant Dean and Director of External Relations led a delegation to visit UCC in January 2017 to discuss collaboration between the two Universities. Present at the meeting were Director of IEPA, Dr. Rosemary Bosu; Research Fellow at IEPA, Dr. Mike Boakye-Yiadom; Deputy Librarian Mrs. Paulina Afful-Arthur; and Dr. Mensah Abrampah of the Department of Management Studies, SoB.
The Department of Vocational and Technical Education (VOTEC) has launched its maiden Skills Training Workshop to mark the commemoration of the World Youth Skills Day. Globally, the World Youth Skills Day, which is celebrated every July 15 by the United Nations, was marked on the theme “Skills Development to Improve Youth Employment”. Locally, VOTEC observed the World Youth Skills Day on the theme “Promoting Skills Acquisition.” The United Nations commemorates the Day to map out strategies to ensure the provision of decent work to support young people in the labour market through training and skills development towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. It is against this backdrop that VOTEC is organising a three-week training Workshop to equip participants with the needed skills for self employment. Participants of the training will be equipped with skills in sugar craft, macramé, food presentation techniques and, advanced batik and tie-dye. Addressing the participants, the Head of the Department, Dr. (Mrs.) Christiana Boateng, said that the purpose of the workshop was to expose the youth to several skills that would give them gainful employment to enhance their standard of living. She said that the workshop was open to the general public regardless of one’s academic status. “…. For this training, we do not require any strict entry grades. So far as you can read, write and follow instructions, everybody is welcome,” Dr. Boateng added. She urged the participants to be dutiful throughout the training workshop in other to achieve the purpose of their participation. The Dean of Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. Joseph K. Mintah, advised the participants to take the workshop seriously in order to enhance their skills in their chosen fields. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, who graced the occasion, said because of the quest for academic labelling, technical universities had deviated from their mandatory skills development component and noted the action had created a challenge for the nation. He noted that the University of Cape Coast “prides itself in terms of intellectual development, attitude and skills”. Prof. Oduro said VOTEC through the workshop was bringing the University close to the people, so that the theory the UCC delivers would be translated into practice, adding that” the practice hovers around skills”. He lauded the leadership of VOTEC for the initiative and encouraged the participants to develop their skills through the workshop.