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UCC Engages Stakeholders on the Establishment of School of Sustainable Engineering

11 Aug, 2022 By DIS

In response to calls by government and stakeholders to promote Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STEM) in Ghana, the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) is introducing new engineering programmes.

The new programmes would be offered by the proposed School of Sustainable Engineering (SSE) to be established under CANS.

In line with UCC’s drive towards entrepreneurship, the School of Sustainable Engineering aims at championing business-led technical training to build the capacity of graduates for self-employment in specific engineering enterprises.

Also, the School would contribute technical contents to support UCC’s College of Education Studies to run programmes targeting teachers in second cycle and technical institutes in Ghana. Eventually, engineering educators would be equipped with both technical and pedagogical skills required for teaching technical subjects in the schools.

As part of preparations to launch the proposed School of Sustainable Engineering, a two-day stakeholder engagement workshop was held in Accra for key players in the industry to share best practices and to review the draft curricular of the engineering programmes.

The new engineering programmes for undergraduate students are: Bachelor of Science (Water and Public Health Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Agriculture Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Robotics and Intelligent Systems), Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering Education), Bachelor of Science (Electrical and Electronics Engineering Education) and Bachelor of Science (Wood Technology Education). The postgraduate programmes are: Master of Philosophy (Coastal Engineering) and Doctor of Philosophy (Coastal Engineering)

Opening the workshop, the Chairman of SSE Committee, Prof. Samuel Yeboah Mensah, noted that UCC conveyed the stakeholder engagement so they would provide valuable contributions to enrich the content of the seven new programmes to reflect best practice in the engineering industry. He indicated that Ghana was not producing enough engineers to support the country’s development, hence, UCC was stepping in to fill that gap by training highly competent graduates.

Prof. Mensah, who is also the founding Provost of CANS, appealed to stakeholders to examine the contents of the draft curricula and make the necessary recommendations to make the programmes responsive to contemporary demands and existing gaps in the country.

Making a presentation on the rationale for the establishment of SSE, Prof. Robert Sarpong Amoah, from the Department of Agriculture Engineering of UCC, explained that in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals, the programmes and activities of the proposed School would be tailored towards the principle of sustainability. “This entails engineering designs that foster positive social and economic development while minimizing environmental impact” he elaborated.

He noted it had become necessary to establish SSE because a number of departments in the University were running engineering biased programmes, but students faced identity crises when they graduate. “Students are torn between whether they are engineers or scientists making it difficult for them to be recognised by professional bodies,” he pointed out. In addition, he indicated that the programmes were geared towards contributing to government’s industrialisation agenda by producing engineers for national development.

In terms of job placement, Prof. Amoah stated that given the limited number of industries in the country, the SSE had adopted competency-based curriculum training to provide sufficient skills to students for self-employment so they do not rely solely on chasing jobs after graduation.

Prof. Amoah stressed that: “We are producing engineers who are not only experts in their fields alone but can also integrate their expertise with business management skills to employ themselves and help develop the industrial sector”.

On behalf of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GHIE), Ing. Joseph Kwesi Oddei, commended UCC for coming up with innovative engineering programmes and also taking steps to bring on board stakeholders to make input into the curricula. He noted that as an institution responsible for regulating engineering in Ghana, GHIE would support UCC to achieve its objective of producing top notch engineers for nation building.

Ing. Oddei said engineers had a clear mandate about their roles to help communities live more sustainably. Making reference to the SDGs, he stated that engineering skills would be demanded in the areas of “clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), affordable, industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9) and sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11). He added that “Goals 4 and 12 which refer to quality education and responsible consumption will rely on engineering skills”.

The President of Institution of Engineers and Technology (IET), Ing. Henry Kwadwo Boateng, in a fraternal message, said the promulgation of the Engineering Council Act (Act 819) and the passing of (LI 2410) in 2020 had provided a platform to ensure that engineering and technology activities were carried out to conform with national and global standards.

Ing. Boateng gave assurance that IET would partner UCC to successfully roll out the new engineering programmes and also provide technical expertise, as well as creating opportunities for graduates of SSE.

The SSE curriculum team together with the stakeholders discussed and reviewed the draft curriculum for the various programmes during the breakout sessions.

Some of the stakeholders praised UCC for reaching out to industry players and also placing premium on sustainable engineering.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

Department of History inaugurates Research Commons

08 Aug, 2022 By DIS

The Department of History has inaugurated a Research Commons to enhance academic output of students and researchers of the Department.

The Research Commons affords researchers access to a state of the art technology, Microsoft Office Applications and Hardware facilities such as desktop computers, laptops, laser printing, digital projector and screen as well as photocopier machine.

In an address, the out-going Head of the Department, Prof. De-Valera Botchway, who inaugurated the facility, said the Department acknowledged research as a crucial part of its tactical plan to produce graduates with high level skills that would be beneficial to society.

He added, “Although the Sam Jonah Library is at the disposal of all students for learning and research, there has been a growing need for a befitting Research Commons for postgraduate students (at the Department of History) for meaningful research work, studies and networking. I thought that the Department needed to have its own research commons”.

A section of the Research Commons

Prof. Botchway observed that the Department solicited   about GH₵ 80,000.00 funds from benevolent individuals to set up the Research Commons.

He expressed appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, for donating a canon photocopier machine and printer to facilitate the academic work at the Department.

Prof. Botchway, who soon exits office as Head of Department, used the occasion to thank staff and students for their support towards his administration.

The Out-going Head of Department seized the chance to also inaugurate the Department’s renovated Reading Room.

For his part, the out-going Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Francis Eric Amuquandoh, appealed for the judicious use of the facilities with a high sense of maintenance culture to ensure their preservation for posterity.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantanka, as well as staff and students graced the inauguration.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

UCC, FDA Meet over Converting Research Findings into Policy Briefs

08 Aug, 2022 By DIS

Officials of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) have met with the University of Cape Coast over formalizing a consensus to convert research findings of the University into policy briefs. This is to strengthen the FDA’s resolve to enhance public health safety.

The UCC team, led by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mrs. Rosemond Boohene, welcomed the initiative by the FDA whose delegation was led by the Lead for its Research Department, Rev. Dr. Cheetham Mingle.

University of Cape Coast becomes the fourth university approached by the FDA for this collaboration.

In a presentation, Dr. Mingle indicated the FDA was collaborating with institutions with specific research interests in the Authority’s regulated products and general public health and safety of Ghanaians.

Though the Public Health Act 851:2012 Section 127C mandates the FDA to conduct research, he noted that collaborating with research institutions was the way forward citing financial constraints as one of the challenges confronting the Authority in holistically carrying out its explorative mandate.

“Researchers are doing research and it is in the archives of the universities. However, the FDA needs these researches to formulate policy briefs to enhance public health safety” he said.

Rev. Dr. Cheetham Mingle making his presentation

Concerns

According to the FDA, poor coordination in the channel and approach of research findings dissemination among researchers, regulators and the media triggers fear and panic among the general population. 

Dr. Mingle said media blast of sensitive research findings at the blind side of regulators poses severe restraints for tangible interventions to be made in the wake of the media and other Civil Society Organisations demanding responses from regulators.

He also raised the concern of the unavailability of known research findings to enhance regulatory practices and resolve regulatory challenges as well as the absence of a common platform for researchers and regulators to share ideas of common interest as difficulties confronting the Authority.

To the FDA, collaborating with research institutions will address these challenges and improve the well-being of the general Ghanaian population through heightened public health safety.

UCC commits to Collaboration

Responding to the collaboration agenda proposed by the FDA, Pro Vice –Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Boohene said UCC was committed to ensuring that research findings from the University were translated into various policies.

Pro VC-UCC, Prof. Mrs. Rosemond Boohene

She noted that with the FDA being a major stakeholder of the University, the collaboration was highly deemed appropriate.

With UCC working to prove itself as an entrepreneurial training hub for students, she called on the FDA to expedite the clearance of product applications of students who had developed various products.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

UCC@60: Sam Jonah Library emerges champion in UCC Staff Games

05 Aug, 2022 By DIS

The Sam Jonah Library team emerged the overall winner in this year's University of Cape Coast (UCC) Staff Games held at the UCC Stadium.

The Library team bagged three (3) gold and 2 bronze medals.

Around fifteen (15) teams consisting of Directorates, Colleges, Schools and Halls competed in Ludo, Thug of War, Draught, Ampe, Volleyball and Football.

The Security Section placed second with University Basic School taking the third position.

Finance/Audit placed fourth, whilst Directorate of Physical Development and Estate Management (DPDEM), College of Distance Education (CoDE)and  Registrar’s Office all took the fifth position.

Team from the Security  Section before the final football match of the competition

While the Directorate of University Health Services came eighth, the College Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS), College of Health and Allied Sciences (CoHAS), College of Education Studies (CoES), College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Kwame Nkrumah , VALCO,  Oguaa, Adehye and Casely Hayford Halls all placed ninth.

In a speech read on his behalf by the immediate past Dean of the School of Educational Development and Outreach (SEDO), Prof. George K.T. Oduro, at the closing ceremony, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, commended the participants for their performance and good sportsmanship.

 

She congratulated the winner and commiserated with the other teams.

Prof. G. K. T. Oduro kicking a football to commence the final match of the 2022 Staff Games

“Whether you grabbed a medal or not, you are all winners. This is because ultimately, your active and continued participation in sports and athletics would pay you rich dividends in terms of fitness, well-being and happiness,” she said.

Prof. Boohene added that the Library team had demonstrated great resilience and proved that with dedication and hard work one could achieve success.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor said despite the Library team’s sterling performance, there was still more room for improvement and, therefore, cautioned the Team to shun complacency and rather strive for excellence in future competitions.

 

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

Workshop on Interdisciplinary held at UCC

05 Aug, 2022 By DIS

A one-day workshop on interdisciplinary has been held at University of Cape Coast (UCC). The workshop forms part of the project dubbed, "Building Expertise and Training for growth in the consumer goods and Processing Industry in Ghana (BET GHANA)."

 

 University of Cape Coast is currently collaborating with Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) in implementing three and a half years project funded by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) which translates in English to the German Academic Exchange Service..

 

The project, to enhance graduates' employment in the goods and consumer food industry, is also aimed at increasing the competiveness and growth of the Ghanaian consumer goods and processing industry and promote innovation and job creation, facilitated by the transfer of knowledge between the UCC and the private sector.

 

Addressing participants drawn from different Colleges and Directorates in UCC, a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Engineering-UCC, Prof. Robert Sarpong Amoah, called for interdisciplinary research among teaching and non- teaching staff of UCC to solve problems confronting society.

 

Prof. Amoah, who treated the topic: "Interdisciplinary perspectives to food and consumer goods research in Ghana", bemoaned the lack of collaborative research among staff members, adding that multi-disciplinary research was the game changer to achieve a common goal amongst researchers.

 

He opined that Researchers working in silos- where, for example, the finance person is doing his market research and the social scientist is doing his research- were not the best to achieve a common research goal.

 

“Even though this approach is good. I believe that it is not going to produce the best of solutions because there is no cross talk (exchange of ideas),” Prof Amoah noted.

 

He noted there were numerous opportunities for multi-disciplinary researchers, including “gaining fresh insights and different perpectives, opens avenues for networking amongst professionals from different fields and, enhancing the significance of research for greater impact.”

 

 

Prof. Amoah walked participants through the challenges of multi-disciplinary research, mentioning, for example, the appointment of research team leaders, the choice of research and methods and, issues with journals for publication.

In a welcome address speech read by Prof. Daniel Agyapong on behalf of the Dean of the School of Business, Prof. John Gatsi, he lauded the project which had been of immense support to faculty in UCC.

 

He noted that unemployment had been exacerbated occasioned by Covid-19 and the Russia and Ukraine war. Prof. Gatsi added that the food and consumer industry could provide jobs for the teeming job seekers in the country and urged participants to take the workshop seriously.

 

THE  BET GHANA PROJECT

BET Ghana is a project designed to increase capacities in applied research and teaching, entrepreneurship and digitalization in Ghana to enhance employability and self-employment opportunity for the Ghanaian youth, as well as to strengthen the international outlook, skills and opportunities for both German and Ghanaian graduates. It does so by building tighter networks with the private sector, offer training and enhance university education. The sectoral focus of the project is on the consumer goods and food processing industry.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

Dean of School of Allied Health Sciences pledges support for new HODs

04 Aug, 2022 By DIS

The Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong, has assured newly-appointed Heads of Departments (HODs) of his utmost support to enable them realize their goals for their respective departments.

The freshly-appointed HODs are Dr. Alexander Egyir Yawson (Department of Biomedical Sciences) and Dr. Frederick Ackaah Armah (Department of Health Information Management).

As regards Department of Imaging Technology and Sonography, the Dean will take oversight responsibility until a substantive head is appointed.

Prof. Acheampong, while speaking at a handover ceremony on Wednesday August 3, 2022, commended the immediate past HODs- Dr. Godwin Kwakye-Nuakoh (Biomedical Sciences), Dr. Frederick Ackaah Armah (Health Information Management) and Prof. Samuel Kyei (Imaging Technology and Sonography) - for serving their respective departments to the best of their abilities.

Newly appointed HODs in a group photo with some guests at the ceremony

The Dean underscored the need for the new officers to pick the brains of their predecessors in the discharge of their duties.

He advised the HODs to work in tandem with their administrative staff to get desired results.

“If you are a coach and you have good backroom staff, you will succeed,” he advised.

Speaking on behalf of the former HODs, Prof. Samuel Kyei, expressed appreciation to University Management for giving them the opportunity to serve their departments.

 

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

UCC introduces BSc Horticulture Programme

03 Aug, 2022 By DIS

The Department of Crop Science of University of Cape Coast, UCC, has unveiled a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture Programme.

 

The new programme is aimed at equipping students with professional and innovative skills to support the accelerated development of the horticulture industry in Ghana.

 

It will also develop entrepreneurial skills among students, enhance their proficiency in managing horticulture-based business, and enable graduates contribute to policy formulation and implementation in the horticulture industry.

 

The Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Henry Degraft Acquah, unveiled the new programme approved by the Academic Board of UCC. He entreated senior high school graduates to enroll on the new programme.

Dean, School of Agriculture, Prof. Henry Degraft Acquah (centre)

 

A professor of Crop Science, Prof. Kingsley Taah, who gave an overview of the programme, observed that "none of the country's public universities currently offers a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture".

 

He noted there was a need for high-level specialist training programme that was aimed at developing a human resource base that was specialized and targeted at the horticultural industry.

 

The need, Prof. Taah indicated, had become pressing due to the diversification of export crops with increasing emphasis on horticultural produce, increased environmental development in urban and peri- urban areas and ecological degradation through mining that require restoration.

Prof. Kingsley Taah giving an overview of the programme

 

"UCC's BSc Horticulture will fill this vacuum and help the country meet the ever-increasing demand for specialists in the various aspects of horticulture," he added.

 

Career Opportunities

 

Prof. Taah explained that there were a slew of job opportunities for students who would pursue BSc Horticulture and charged graduates of second cycle institutions to take advantage of it.

 

Apart from students employing themselves, he noted that beneficiaries of the BSc Horticulture could gain employment at both governmental and non-governmental establishments, including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Parks and Gardens, Teaching and Research Institutions, financial institutions, among others.

 

"Our programme will also develop contemporary consultants in horticulture, ornamental horticulturists, florists, sports turf specialists, horticultural journalists, real estate developers," Prof. Taah told the audience, which included the newly-elected Vice-Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Julius Kofi Hagan.

 

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

Prof. Anokye Mohammed Adam assumes office as CoDE Provost

03 Aug, 2022 By DIS

Following his appointment by the Governing Council of University of Cape Coast as Provost of the College of Distance Education (CoDE), Prof. Anokye Mohammed Adam, has assumed office.

Prof. Adam succeeds Prof. Isaac Galyon, who served a-two-term mandate which was six (6) years in duration.

In a statement at a short handover ceremony, Prof. Adam thanked his predecessor for contributing to the success of CoDE during his time in office.

Taking a cue from the fallouts of the Covid-19 impact on academics, he said plans were afoot to digitalize part of the teaching and learning process of the College.

“I also have plans of digitalizing...so we need to digitalize part of our teaching and learning process because we do not know when the next Covid will strike again,” he observed.

Prof. Adam noted, “I am expecting that we implement what we call the service delivery chatter which will prescribe what our client and stakeholders should expect from us and the timelines aligned with it” while calling on the staff of the College to support him achieve his vision.

For his part, Prof. Galyuon thanked the staff of CoDE for their support and called on them to give their full support to the new Provost for the development of the College and UCC as a whole.

He underscored the need for UCC to put up more facilities in the regions to support distance education.

The Pro Vice -Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, was present at the handover ceremony and she reiterated the need for staff of CoDE to support the new Provost and his team.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

UCC@60: CoHAS holds Open Day

02 Aug, 2022 By DIS

The College of Health and Allied Sciences (CoHAS) has held an Open Day to familiarize the public with operations of the College.

 

The Open Day was part of activities earmarked for the 60th Anniversary celebration of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) themed, "60 Years Of Higher Education: Expanding the Frontiers of Health".

 

The event was also an opportunity for the University community to interact with staff and students of CoHAS to witness practical demonstrations of their services.

  

Delivering a lecture on the theme, as part of the event, the first Provost of the College, Rev. Prof.  Harold S. Armonoo-Kuofi, said the establishment of CoHAS was based on the realisation that resources of UCC could be recognised to maximise its potentials to compete in the market space.

 Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi at the lecture

 

Prof. Armonoo-Kuofi mentioned the introduction of the White Coat Ceremony and an integrated medical curriculum amongst others as some of the achievements of the College.

 

To expand the frontiers of health, the former Provost tasked CoHAS to introduce programmes to train emergency and critical care nurses following the fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Again, as a result of the expansion of the National Ambulance Service by government, he called on CoHAS to train paramedics and emergency medical technologists.

 

"Restructuring of the Security and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) would result in need for professionals with specialised skills such as Biomedical and forensic scientists, crime scene investigators and Ballistic experts” he explained.

 

Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi added that the restructuring would help the College to introduce short courses for the security services to generate revenue.

A student of Mfantsipim School having a practical session at one of the stands during the CoHAS Day Exhibition

 

He mentioned the establishment of new schools and the restructuring of existing schools and programmes as opportunities for expanding the frontiers of health.

 

He called for "greater collaborations with local, national and international partners to support the development of a more resilient and sustainable research ecology."

 

The event, which brought together faculty members, students and a section of the public, was chaired by the Provost of the College of Education Studies, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis.

 

Source: Documentation and Information Service-UCC

Prof. David Teye Doku takes Office as Director of DRIC-UCC

02 Aug, 2022 By DIS

The immediate past Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) of University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Frederick Ato Armah, has handed over the Directorate’s administration to the newly-appointed Director, Prof. David Teye Doku.   

Prof. Armah, who was appointed as Director in 2019 (after serving as deputy Director for three years), congratulated Prof. Doku on his appointment.

He was of the hope that the new director would work tirelessly to advance the cause of DRIC.

“I know you will catapult DRIC to greater heights and place DRIC at the citadel of excellence,” said Prof. Armah, who also urged DRIC staff to support his successor in his work.

New administration

Prof. Doku paid glowing tribute to his predecessor for the exceptional leadership and selfless dedication to duty.

He asked Prof. Armah to put his knowledge and expertise at the disposal of the new administration so that the core mandate of the Directorate could be achieved with dispatch.

Prof David Teye Doku, new director of DRIC-UCC

Vision for the Directorate

Amongst others, Prof. Doku highlighted strategies of his vision for the Directorate, including establishing longitudinal research data infrastructure to generate data for quality multidisciplinary research.

He said he would promote research and innovation culture across all the activities in the University.

Prof. Doku, who becomes the fourth director to be given the mandate to engineer affairs of DRIC, added that he would build strong industry-government-third sector partnerships and networks.

“Increase research income,” he said, adding: “I will improve research and innovation governance in the University”.

Open for ideas

Prof. Doku noted that his doors for ideas were open and called on members of the University community to support him to achieve the research vision of the University.

 

He announced that he would set aside 500 Cedis of his entertainment allowance every month to fete members of the DRIC staff who would support him with ideas for the forward match of DRIC.

Staff of DRIC in a group photograph

The Deputy Director of DRIC, Prof. Dorcas Obiri Yeboah, as well as DRIC staff attended the symbolic handover ceremony.

 

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

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