The Department of History of the University of Cape Coast has won a five-year project from the Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART) to facilitate faculty and graduate student exchanges. The project, which commences from 2017 to 2021,will provide support for academic partnerships and student mobility with an emphasis on Master and PhD level between higher education institutions in Norway and others selected from developing countries. With financial support from the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education, the project will also include the design of new graduate programmes and organisation of conferences and workshops. Other partner institutions for the project are Department of Historical Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim, Norway; Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana; Department History Education, University of Education, Winneba. Through the NORPART project, the partner institutions will work to improve the quality of programmes in their respective Universities by using innovative ways of enhancing the intercultural and digital competence of participating students to make them employable assets for both the public and private sectors of their respective countries and internationally.

The Faculty of Educational Foundations has organised a day’s seminar to build the capacities of lecturers and students on teaching philosophy and assessment. A Fulbright Specialist from the Auburn University, USA, Dr. Stacey Nickson, who spoke on “Developing a Teaching Philosophy and Assessment”, said teaching philosophy statement is a written declaration that describes and explains values, beliefs and actions surrounding the process of teaching and learning. According to her, teaching philosophy statement articulates the continuity between one’s beliefs and actions around teaching and learning. She noted that students will lose confidence and trust in their teachers, if what teachers “Say does not match what they do”. Speaking on Class Assessment Technique, she said classroom assessment provides the teacher with immediate feedback of the students’ understanding for him or her to adjust the lessons accordingly. She advised teachers to undertake both misconceptions and preconceptions checks on their students. “Your focus must be uncovering prior knowledge or beliefs that hinder or block new learning. This can be designed to uncover incorrect or incomplete knowledge, attitudes or values.” For his part, the Dean of Faculty of Educational Foundations, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Simpson, thanked the facilitator for her presentation and urged participants to adopt good teaching philosophy as professionals. He noted that the Faculty would organise frequent seminars to build the capacities of lecturers and students.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G. K. T. Oduro, has underscored the need for both past and present students of Casely Hayford Hall (Casfordians) to let their lives reflect on the virtues of J. E. Casely Hayford, a prominent Pan- Africanist. “As we reflect on the 50 years growth of Casely Hayford Hall. It is important to reflect on the virtues of the J. E. Casely Hayford after whom this Hall derived its name”, he said. The Hall was named after Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford, an eminent Ghanaian journalist, editor, lawyer and politician, following an agreement between the then University authorities and the custodians of the Oguaa Traditional Council. Casely Hayford wrote several books primarily as commentaries and opposition to British land management Acts, such as the Crown Bill of 1897, and the forest ordinance of 1911. His view was that African identify and African social stability were inextricably linked to conservation of existing conventions concerning land rights. Prof. Oduro described J.E Casely Hayford as visionary, intelligent, decent, courageous, truthful and a no-nonsense man and challenged all Casfordians to guard against any act that would negate such virtues. “I challenged Gentlemen of Casely Hayford Hall to remember that the man J.E Casely Hayford was visionary, intelligent, decent, courageous, truthful and above all, ‘no-nonsense man’ “, Prof. Oduro made these remarks at a grand durbar to mark the 50th Casely Hayford Hall Week celebration. The hall week, which brought together alumni of the Hall, was on the theme “50 Years of Growth of The Great Casely Hayford Hall Empire:Reflections and Projections”. Prof. Oduro said: “A true Gentleman should be humble, approachable, have respect for humanity and above all disciplined”. “He should also exhibit exemplary leadership in all fields: intellectual activities, virtuous role modelling and positional leadership. Explaining the meaning of “Sharp Brain”, he said: “Sharp Brain simply provides the opportunity for Casfordians to celebrate intellectualism.” The Pro-Vice-Chancellor however deplored the culture where latter day Casfordians appear to adopt “Brawl procession and described it as misguided replacement for “Brain procession”. “This type of procession which is characterised by stupid fights, nudity, drugs etc. must be condemned by all genuine gentlemen of the Great Casford Hall because it is a disgrace to Mother Casford.” He,however, commended Casfordians for acquitting themselves honourably throughout the hall week celebration. “It is highly commendable that, on a whole, the 50th Hall Week celebration has been devoid of the uncouth and ferocious activities that characterized previous hall week celebrations such as mounting unauthorised road blocks, intimidating innocent drivers, public display of physical nudity, invasion of sister halls of residence, stone throwing and other violent acts”, he said. Prof. Oduro, who is an alumnus of the Hall, said,“the absence of these acts of indiscipline in this year’s hall week celebration, I hope, opens a new chapter in the image reclaiming strategies of the Great Casely Hayford Hall”. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor indicated that the University management was committed to ensuring that all students go about their academic duties on campus without any fear of harassment, intimidation and physical assault, adding that “Management of the University will not spare any student who breaks the rules of the University”. The Hall Master, Prof. Akwasi Kumi Kyeremeh, expressed gratitude to the University management, Hall executives, alumni, the Police and the planning committee for their support towards the hall week celebration,adding that the Hall would climax its 50 years’ anniversary activities in September 2017. He noted that the Hall, starting from this year, would institute an award scheme to reward the best graduating student from the Hall. In his remarks, Ft. Lt. Owusu Ankrah of the Takoradi Air Force Base, who reviewed the parade, commended the Cadet, drawn from Adehye and Casford Halls, for their sterling qualities and performances. He urged them not to compromise on their integrity and be disciplined and selfless in all their endeavours. The colourful event was chaired by the Vice-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Eugene K.M. Darteh.

The British Council has organised a programme to introduce a new English assessment tool to the University Community known as Aptis. Aptis, which is usually taken online, is an innovative global English assessment tool designed to test, assess and evaluate the English language skills of individuals in corporate and educational institutions. Addressing the participants on Aptis test, the Country Exams Manager at British Council, Mr. Balvinder Kandra, said the Aptis exam is the smartest way to evaluate all four English skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking- in combination with a core grammar and vocabulary component. Mr. Kandra noted that Aptis is also flexible since one could split the sections and take the exam at a convenient pace. He indicated that the test identifies teachers and students’ needs, assesses students’ suitability or eligibility for particular training and recruitment. It also systematically and constantly evaluates students’ performance, filter students and identify those who are ready to take international test such as IELTS, and test students applying for scholarship programmes. He also added that Aptis has been designed to meet the needs of companies and institutions around the world to filter potential candidates for recruitment. Aptis test, according to Mr. Kandra, had been tried and tested in many institutions across the world. He added that as part of the package for adopting the Aptis test, the Council’s resource persons were prepared to assist the team in UCC to deliver the test with ease and indicated that Senior Members of the University would also get the opportunity to attend flagship programmes organised by the Council. For his part, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, thanked Mr. Kandra for his presentation and added that the University would reflect on the insight provided on the Aptis since it has a lot of prospects.