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UCC Introduces Cape Coast Farmers to Improved Variety of Cowpea

30 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has introduced improved varieties of cowpea to some farmers in the Cape Coast Metropolis at a training session at the A. G. Carson Teaching and Research Farms.

During the training session known as Farmers Field Day (FFD), the farmers were given the opportunity to select the best improved cowpea varieties of their choice to be developed for planting in their respective farms.  The training programme was to educate and expose the farmers to cowpea cultivation and the economic benefits of the crop. It was aimed at encouraging farmers to make informed decisions to select cowpeas of their choice on the field.

The FFD forms part of a project being undertaken by a research team involving Scientists from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (UCC) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University of Cape Coast.  It is being sponsored by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture “(ITPGRFA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the University of Cape Coast. Through this project, the Scientists have developed over 22 varieties of cowpea with distinctive features out of which six (6) would soon be released to farmers.

Briefing the farmers before the field work, the Project Manager, Dr. Aaron T. Asare of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology said cowpea production in the country was very low in spite of the high consumption of the crop in Ghana. He noted that the nutritional value of the crop was very healthy compared to meat adding that “Cowpea is consumed in most homes in Ghana and it is common to find people patronising waakye and gari and beans”. He however expressed worry that most of the cowpea consumed in the country were imported from Burkina Faso and Niger to supplement that of the local market.

Dr. Asare explained that the improved varieties have only eight weeks to mature and will be ready for harvest. He also noted that other varieties of the crop have been developed for the Northern part of the country. He stressed that the cowpea varieties that had been developed were resistant to diseases and drought.

25 Aug, 2016

Date:  Friday, 26th, August, 2016
Time: 12pm
Vene: LT 21

Agenda
General Overview of Courses
Job Opportunities
A.O.B

25 Aug, 2016

It is announced for the information of 2016 WASSCE candidates who applied for admission to pursue various programmes of study in the University of Cape Coast that the lists of admitted candidates are available on www.admissionlist.ucc.edu.gh. Applicants are therefore advised to visit the website to check their admission status and, if admitted, print their admission letters. It should be noted that the University has already re-opened for the 2016/2017 academic year. Lectures commence on Monday, 29th August, 2016.

UCCSMS Graduates 4th Batch of Medical Doctors

22 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

Fifty-six (56) graduates of the School of Medical Sciences of the College of Health and Allied Sciences of the University of Cape Coast have been inducted as full-fledged medical doctors by the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Eli Kwasi Atikpui.

 This took place during the 49th Congregation and 4th Oath Swearing and Induction Ceremony of the School of Medical Sciences.

Twenty-four  (24) awards were shared by 9 graduating students with Lyanne Dede Scackey and Gideon Gawu Mensah picking five awards each. Gideon Gawu Mensah was also adjudged the best overall performing student of the class of 2016.

UCCSMS Provides Quality Medical Education

The Chairman of the University of Cape Coast Governing Council, Nana Sam Brew Butler, addressing the gathering commended the UCCSMS for providing medical education of the highest quality to the students. He pointed out that “information indicates that our products are among the best in the country and are performing creditably’. Nana Butler announced that the University has proposed to provide scholarships to those who would elect to specialise.

To the graduating class, he said, “You have endured great training and today you have earned what only a few can put behind their names. Go out there and demonstrate professionalism as you venture out to serve the sick and humanity’.

Unique Model of UCCSMS Training of Medical Doctors

The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education, Prof. Mohammed Salifu, who represented the Minister for Education, said the University’s model of training medical doctors was unique and has produced competent and well-grounded doctors and was confident that they would bring about the needed change in medical practice in the country.

“As we commend you on your unique style, I hope other universities will emulate you as it is a marked change in medical training in Ghana”

Prof. Salifu said the health system was fraught with many challenges that were being addressed by the government at all levels but it would take the collective efforts of all to solve them. He mentioned that the Ministry was prepared to help get cutting edge medical practice and delivery in the country and therefore urged the newly qualified doctors to perform the best they could.

The Executive Secretary appealed the University to reconsider its full fee paying financing model to allow the brilliant but poor to access medical education at UCC.

UCCSMS Products Excelling at their Work Places

Presenting his address, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. D. D. Kuupole said UCCSMS has produced a total of 184 doctors spread over the country to help improve upon the doctor-patient ratio.

Commending the special feature of the medical school’s curriculum, the Community-Based-Experience and Service (COBES) that is designed to give the trainee doctors a hands-on experience of diseases and their treatment. He said it has given the doctors a strong community-based orientation for patient care.

“Mr. Chairman reports received about our doctors indicate that they are performing creditably in hospitals where they have their housemanship and those who have completed their training and are now Medical Doctors are excelling at their workplaces”.

In order to facilitate and enhance training at the school, the Vice-Chancellor announced that the Effia Nkwanta hospital in Sekondi Takoradi has been approved by the Ministry of Health for clinical training of medical students.

Prof. Kuupole bemoaned the slow pace of work on infrastructural facilities of the school saying “it has not made it possible for us to have the full benefit of them”.  

UCCSMS Holds 7th White Coat Ceremony

19 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

The School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS) of the College Health Allied Sciences (CoHAS), University of Cape Coast, has held its 7th White Coat ceremony for 68 students who have completed the first cycle of their medical education.

With this transition, the students who were robed by their lecturers have qualified to commence the second phase of their training to become medical doctors.

White Coat ceremonies are held as rites of passage to symbolize that students have received foundations in medical education and are prepared both physically and mentally to continue at the next level which is the clinical stage.

Welcome Address by Provost

Welcoming the students into the clinical stage of their training to become medical doctors, the Provost of CoHAS, Prof. Harold Steward Amonoo Kuofi, said the first and second cycles were both important to the training of the students. He however, said “the 2nd cycle has the clinical emphasis and professional attitude to medical practice and it ensures that the student know and understand that they have a responsibility towards their patients, UCC and Ghana”.

Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi said since the inception of the school, its students have excelled wherever they have found themselves. According to the Provost, the 68 students who were being robed have passed 18 serious and rigorous examinations and have thus satisfied all requirements to commence their journey to become qualified medical doctors.  He mentioned that UCCSMS has a different training regime from other medical schools in the country saying “UCCSMS’ curriculum is fashioned along the best practices in the world”.

 

Importance of White Coat Ceremony

The Dean of UCCSMS, Prof. Francis Ofei said the ceremony was an important one since it marked a change in the way things were done in the medical practice. He advised the new level 400 students not to just pass through the white ceremony, but observe all the ethics of the profession. He reminded them that whatever they do, henceforth would affect a patient and therefore asked them to be very careful as trainee doctors.

Treat the Patient with Respect

The Chairman of Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Eric Asamoah, who was the guest speaker, impressed upon the students to be dedicated and proficient in their training since medicine was learnt at the bedside and not the classroom.

“The patient will be your greatest teacher so you have to show respect to all you come into contact with. Treat each other with respect so you can treat your patients with respect”, he explained.

He told the students to be diligent in their studies and career since you will have a positive impact on people’s lives adding, “Sometimes your mistakes are irreversible in the emergency room”.

 

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole, when he took his turn remarked that the colour of the coat they were wearing symbolised peace and compassion without which they cannot be called medical doctors.

“I am sure when you finally go out as doctors, we will not be walking into the hands of shabby and careless doctors”, he added.

White Coat Symbolises the Enormous Task Ahead

The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira who chaired the function, told the student-doctors that the coat they were wearing should remind them of the enormity of the task ahead of them and must, therefore, prepare adequately to face it.

He said that the client who would sit in front of them was a friend and a fellow human being in pain and must treat them as such and if they did that they would succeed.

“Your friendship alone will make the difference as you attend to the client”, he said.

He asked them to bear in mind that they were putting on coats of candour, kindness, respect; saying “it is a robe of your profession so keep it well and wear it well as well”.

Vice-Chancellor Inaugurates Projects on Campus

19 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole has inaugurated three projects at separate ceremonies at the University of Cape Coast.

The projects are the Water Bottling Plant at the South Campus, University of Cape Coast Catering Services (popularly known as 124) and Shuttle Bus Station at the North Campus.

The Chairman of the Internally Generated Fund Implementation Committee, Prof. Edward Marfo-Yiadom, said the successful completion of the project was an indication that when “We want to get it right and done well; we can do it”. He said the plant will produce both bottled and sachet water for both the University community and the general public. It will also serve as laboratory for both business and science students of the University.

Prof. Marfo-Yiadom thanked management for their support of the initiative and assured that the plant would serve the purpose for which it was established.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kuupole in his remarks commended the team that worked assiduously by putting energy and thinking together to have the project done adding that without their support it would have remained just a piece of an idea on paper.

Prof. Kuupole believed that the water production business would help the University get some of the needed funds to run its activities. “The period when as a Vice-Chancellor, you could sit down for funds to come from the government is no more” stressing that “even if it comes; it is less than 50%, so you need to generate money run so you can even affect the community”.

The Vice-Chancellor called for a paradigm shift from the way things used to be done in the past since times have changed.

“You can only achieve by loving what you do, without that you will remain at the same point for a long time to come”, he stated.

The Plant has an installed capacity of producing 2,500 bottles irrespective of size within an hour and 1,500 bags of sachet water per day.

Cutting the tape to inaugurate the University Catering Services, Prof. Kuupole urged the staff to work, as serious-minded business people would do to make the place very vibrant to attract clientele from both within and outside of the university.

He indicated that the facility boast of the needed equipment to be a very serious commercial entity to rake in some of the needed funds required to run the university.

At the Shuttle Bus Station, Prof. Kuupole commended the Student Representative Council for the initiative and called on them to come up with more of such laudable projects to help the University.

He indicated that the project was a great example of what student-management partnership could achieve. “Management’s doors are always opened to such good collaboration be it from the students, workers or business community”, he said.

Orientation for 2016/17 Fresh Students Begins

15 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

An orientation programme for fresh students admitted to pursue various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for the 2016/17 Academic Year of the University Cape Coast has been opened at the University.

The orientation programme is being held under the auspices of the Office of the Dean of Students of the University and it is designed to provide the fresh students with information that will help them settle-in properly as they commence their studies.

 

Officials of the Office of the Dean of Students, Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance (DAPQA), Department of Communication Studies, Electricity Section, Ghana National Fire Service took turns to take the students through topics such rule and regulation for students, academic quality, overview of communication skills, energy conservation and fire safety respectively.

The Registrar of the University, Mr. John Kofi Nyan, called on the fresh students to pay attention to information being provided by the various resource persons for them to be equipped properly for their journey on campus.This he said was necessary given the fact that they now find themselves in completely new environment where things were done quite differently from their previous learning situations.  

“You are being provided the opportunity to be informed as you are in transition from one stage to the other on the education ladder”.

The Dean of Students, Prof. Koawo Edjah, advised the new students to read the Students Handbook carefully and also seek advice so as to acquaint themselves with all the rules and regulations so that they don’t fall foul of the ‘law’ since that was the sure way to make life comfortable for them on campus.  “You must put yourselves together and apply the rules and regulations to all that you do here as students”, he said.

The Chairman for the opening ceremony and Pro-Vice –Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro reiterated statements made by previous speakers by reminding the students that “If you do not manage the freedom you now have well, there will be trouble. But if you manage it well by practicing good time management it will be good for you”.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor told the students to be guided by the truth even as they seek academic laurels noting that “At UCC, we pursue truth and do not compromise on quality”. Prof. Oduro asked them to disabuse their minds of the perception that UCC was a difficult place to study and rather work hard in their studies and would not regret they chose the University over all others. “If you go through this University and find yourself at any work place it is then that you realize that you were at the right place for your studies”.

GAUW Members Urged to Develop Positive Attitude at the Work Place

12 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

An International Consultant in Capacity Building and Technology Madam Carina Baum has urged members of the University of Cape Coast Branch of Graduate Association of University Women (GAUW) to develop positive attitude in their respective offices.

Delivering a presentation on “Motivation and Commitment to Work, the Israeli Experience” at a workshop for members of GAUW, Madam Baum advised them to exhibit attitudes that would end up producing successful results. She noted that positive attitude should be visible in the personality of every staff in an establishment adding that “A positive attitude starts with a smile”.

Madam Baum highlighted the need to work as a team at the work place and called on the women to share knowledge, skills and experience to achieve the vision and mission of the University. She noted that team work can be achieved if people learn to accept their strengths and weakness and added that “Look at yourself honestly, understand your passions, temperament and limitations”.

The International Consultant said “the more we accept and look into ourselves the easier it is to appreciate and accept others.” She said the women should challenge themselves to succeed in their work saying, “Challenges are good, life is often about taking choices and making decisions”. She entreated them to share ideas and believe in their abilities to make changes wherever they find themselves.

The President of the GAUW-UCC, Mrs. Mildred Asmah encouraged the women to make a difference in their respective departments. She said the Association was opened to female staff of the University with a minimum of bachelor’s degree.

Auburn University Collaborates with University of Cape Coast

11 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro has received a delegation from the Auburn University in the United States of America at his office.

The Auburn University is collaborating with the Institute of Education Planning and Administration (I.E.P.A).

Briefing the Pro Vice-Chancellor on their mission, a member of the team, Elizabeth Essamuah-Quansah, said her university has established a mutual partnership with the IEPA and hoped it would grow into a long-term one. She said they were in the University of Cape Coast to learn from their colleagues and also share their experiences with them.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oduro said the University was exploring ways of creating links with other universities; therefore, the fact that Auburn chose UCC over others was a sure sign that some level of progress was being made in that direction.

Prof. Oduro said leadership has become crucial at the basic level in the country and needed to be looked at critically. “It is not just in terms of the general systems but in learning as well. So as the premier institution in education we find this crucial”, he stated.

 

Prof. Oduro gave the assurance that management would do everything possible to sustain the collaboration to achieve its intended purpose.

“We support the initiative and looking forward to make it fruitful so that it will become programme oriented and not just a project that cannot be sustained”, he indicated.

The Director of IEPA, Dr. Rosemary S. Bosu and a Research Fellow of the Institute, Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom accompanied the delegation.  Present at the meeting were the Registrar, Mr. John K. Nyan and Acting Director of Public Affairs, Major K. Baah-Bentum (rtd.).  

Training & Development Section Organises Workshop for Newly Appointed Provosts and Other Heads

11 Aug, 2016 By louis Mensah

A three-day training programme for newly appointed Provosts, Deans, Directors, Heads of Department and Coordinators of the University has been opened at the Capital Hill Hotel in Cape Coast.

 

The main objective of the programme is to build capacity to improve the academic and administrative performance of heads in the university.

It is also designed to build vibrant and high performing academic and administrative heads capable of providing sustainable quality academic and administrative leadership and effective financial management towards achieving the universities strategic plan in maintaining proper academic performance at all levels.

 

Some of the topics to be treated at the workshop are Budget preparation, Revised Financial and Stores regulations, Research Grant and Proposal writing, I. C. T. as a tool in improving Teaching and Learning and University Ranking and Visibility.

Others are Strengthening Campus Security for Peaceful Academic Environment, Crime Prevention Strategies and Entrepreneurial Strategies.

 

Opening the programme, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro called on the participants to find ways of helping to nurture and grow the Collegiate System.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor asked the participants to think about where they wanted their respective offices to be in the near future saying, “as leaders you should know that you are in a position to help, so you must ask yourselves what you will do to facilitate the process”.

 

On the position of the University on the world and Africa rankings of universities, Prof. Oduro noted that the university was not well placed so workshops like this will help in preparing them as managers of the University in their own right to ensure that the university takes up its rightful position on the league table.

 

In a presentation, the Director of the Directorate of Research Innovation and Consultancy, Prof. Samuel K. Annim, who spoke on the topic “Proposal Grant Writing and Grant Sourcing”, called on participants to carve a niche for themselves and be driven by their area of expertise in order to win grants for the university.

“By the end of the programme we should all be well motivated and aggressive to write winnable proposals. Without this we cannot have any authority in our areas of competence”, he said.

 

Prof. Annim entreated the participants to develop “thick skin” to ensure that their proposals and programmes receive the needed funding.

The Director of DRIC indicated that the era when government subvention and regular grants were guaranteed was long gone. For this reason, he said it was essential to look elsewhere for funding to support the university’s activities.

 

“One way of getting funds into the university now is through Grant Sourcing. We must all be aggressive now to pursue this direction of funding”, he advised.

He explained that writing papers for promotion, or conceptualising an idea for Ph.D or M.Phil was different from writing proposal for grant.

 

He mentioned that it has been realised that the real problem in writing grant proposals was the issue of capacity. He therefore said the programme has come at “an appropriate time to provide them with the requisite tools to begin their schedules as leaders”.

Other facilitators of the 3-day programme are Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and Prof. Kofi Awusabo Asare.

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