The School of Medical Sciences (SMS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), has held a three-day Problem-Based Learning (PBL) training for faculty of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).

The programme, which sought to strengthen learner-centered teaching methods, opened with a call to embrace innovative educational strategies tailored for 21st-century medical education.

The Dean of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Prof. Sebastian Eliason, presented an address on behalf of the Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences (CoHAS), Prof. Martins Ekor. In the address, the provost highlighted the significance of collaborative academic partnerships and stressed UCC's commitment to pedagogical excellence.

The first technical session, led by Prof. Sebastian Eliason, focused on “Innovative Teaching Practices and 21st Century Competencies.” He emphasised the need for a shift from traditional, didactic teaching models towards more learner-centred approaches.

"In today’s knowledge-driven world, it is essential that our methods evolve to reflect the demands of the 21st century,” Prof. Eliason noted. “Critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication must be central to how we train future healthcare professionals,” he highlighted.

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Participants during the training

Prof. Eliason further stressed the importance of equipping faculty with the tools and mindset necessary to cultivate these competencies in students.

The second session for the day was delivered by Dr. Kwabena Dankwa, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Coordinator for Problem-Based Learning (PBL) at the SMS. He introduced participants to the concept and practice of Problem-Based Learning.

"PBL is not just a teaching method; it is a philosophy of learning that places students at the centre of the educational experience," he explained.

"At UCC School of Medical Sciences, we’ve seen significant gains in learner engagement and critical reasoning through PBL.", Dr. Dankwa noted.

Dr. Dankwa also walked participants through the PBL process as practised at UCC, encouraging adaptation and contextualisation of the method in their respective institutions.

The three-day event also featured hands-on activities and detailed explorations of the PBL methodology. Facilitators such as Prof. Patrick O.M. Maison and Prof. Samuel Acquah led sessions on the roles of students and facilitators, assessment tools, and quality assurance in PBL.

The training also included workshops on writing effective PBL scenarios facilitated by Dr. Ansumana S. Bockarie, and discussions on faculty development, digital tools, and institutional strategies for successful PBL implementation led by Prof. Emmanuel K. Achampong and others.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has honoured 122 students for their outstanding performance across various levels of study at the 2025 Dean’s Awards Ceremony.

The colourful ceremony was graced by the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS), Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng; the Acting Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Augustine Tanle, and Mr. Isaac Augustus Ogoe, the Human Resource and Administrative Manager of PEPL.

The Provost, Prof. Osei Kwarteng, commended the awardees for their hard work and dedication and encouraged them to earn their degrees honestly. He stressed that earning a degree through honest means was vital for several compelling reasons, such as students not undermining their credibility, not only with their educators but also with themselves.

“Upholding academic integrity builds trust, which is essential for personal and professional relationships,” he explained.

He further added that earning a degree through hard work and not through cheating makes students more employable.

“The primary goal of education is to gain knowledge and skills. Cheating shortcuts this process, preventing students from truly understanding the material. An honest approach ensures that graduates are well-equipped with the knowledge needed in their fields,” Prof. Kwarteng said.

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Provost of CHLS, Prof Kwarteng, presenting an awardee with a certificate of honour

In his remarks, the Acting Dean, Prof. Augustine Tanle, praised the awardees and challenged them to remain consistent with their performance.

“Try and maintain the class you have attained,” he said, urging them to uphold values such as loyalty and humility. He further reminded students about the power of effective communication.

“Your language can send you, promote you, or demote you,” he advised.

Three students emerged as the overall best at their respective levels. Emmanuella Agyeman, a level 200 student, topped the list with a CGPA of 3.96. She was closely followed by Elizabeth Amoo, level 300 with a CGPA of 3.95, and Martin Efemor Paku from level 400 with a CGPA of 3.88.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Isaac Augustus Ogoe, the Human Resource and Administrative Manager of P. E Power Limited, who spoke on the theme, "Beyond the Degrees: Cultivating Employability in a Dynamic World." urged students to build their character and professionalism together with academic work. He also emphasised the need to be disciplined, time-conscious and reliable.

Touching on the importance of dressing appropriately, he noted that dressing decently was a vital aspect of student life that can significantly impact various facets of academic and social experiences. He added that the university is a transitional phase where students prepare for their professional lives.  As such, adopting a habit of dressing appropriately helps students to develop a sense of professionalism that will be beneficial in job interviews and workplace settings.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), in collaboration with the Sam Jonah Library, has organised a training workshop to equip new graduate students with skills to maximize the use of electronic resources available to them for research.

The workshop was also designed to help graduate students leverage these resources to enhance their research output and academic performance.

Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah, the University Librarian, in a welcome address, described the workshop as a “very important programme.”

He stressed, “We have made an effort to create a welcoming and special environment for you to learn and do research at the library."

Dr.  Cobblah noted that students could access the library's resources even outside campus.

 "Take advantage of the opportunity and learn technical skills because you will need these skills at all costs”, he emphasized.

Dr. Imoro Osman, the E-Resource and Research Support Librarian, illustrated how the students can access materials like articles and books from the University Library's website, how to apply for their own 'Turnitin' accounts, and reference management tools available.

Additionally, he commented that an increase in the number of publications per year would contribute immensely to the university's research output, and therefore, students should consider publishing their articles.

Mr. Kwasi Opuni Karikari, a Chief Library Assistant, demonstrated the use of Mendeley software for organizing references.

Mr. Gabriel Assamah, a Systems Analyst at SGS, illustrated how students could submit their thesis online and apply for a step-down through their Graduate School portal.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

The Directorate of Research Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) has organised a grantsmanship workshop to equip faculty with the requisite grant proposal writing skills.

The two-day workshop, which was held in collaboration with the Training and Development Section of the Directorate of Human Resource, was aimed at guiding participants through the process of writing effective grant proposals.

Participants were taken through research impact, sustainability of funds, and budgeting and financial planning.

Facilitators, including a Deputy Director of DRIC, Dr. Brandford Bervell, Prof. Francis Annor, and a Research Fellow at DRIC, Dr. Alex Boadi Dankyi, led the opening sessions, providing valuable insights into grantsmanship and identifying funding opportunities for faculty and researchers.

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Prof. Francis Annor addressing the event

Prof. Francis Annor, speaking on Research Impact, encouraged researchers to ensure that their research had an impact on society.

"Research impact can manifest in advancements in knowledge, policy changes, new technologies, and improvements in health and well-being," he added.

Prof. Annor stressed that the impact went beyond the publishing of research findings and urged researchers to engage key stakeholders in their research for their input.

He indicated that there were many research impacts, including academic, social, cultural, health, environmental, and economic.

He also encouraged participants to stay informed about potential funding opportunities by attending relevant conferences, subscribing to funding tools, and exploring platforms like Research Professional Africa.

Dr. Brandford Bervell, speaking on the topic, ‘Sustainability of Funds,’ urged researchers to sustain the gains in their project even after the tenure of the project.

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Dr. Brandford Bervell

According to him, funders support projects, and when they mature for three or five years, they expect researchers to sustain the project beyond the lifespan of the funding.

He urged researchers to meet the expectations of donors or funders to attract more funding from the funding organisation.

Some participants in the training

For his part, a Technology Transfer Officer at DRIC, Mr. Isaac Nketsiah, speaking on Intellectual Property (IP), advised researchers to develop intellectual property to guide their research and scholarly works to enable them to generate income from the commercialization of their works.

That, according to him, would enable them to protect their IP rights.

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Mr. Isaac Nketsiah

He explained to participants the impact of IP rights, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights on their research innovations. 

Mr. Nketsiah encouraged faculty to visit DRIC to be abreast of the IP rights, to protect the ideas they had created

The sessions were followed by a practical activity where participants were divided into interdisciplinary groups and presented their proposals for feedback. Some participants were excited about the platform created to equip them with the grant proposal writing skills.

Ms. Ivy Serwaa Gyimah Akuoko, an Assistant Research Fellow at the Centre for Coastal Management – Africa Centre of Excellence for Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), expressed her excitement about learning grant writing techniques.

"When I saw the advertisement, it was a topic I was interested in and wanted to gain more insight into. I am also into many fisheries projects, so grants are important to us," she said.

Dr. Charles Roland Haruna, from the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, also appreciated the practical approach of the workshop, particularly the sessions on identifying funding opportunities and seeking support before submitting applications.

"This experience has been transformative. It is not just about skills; it is about the mindset shift that I can contribute significantly to global research narratives," he added.

The workshop is a giant step in the ongoing attempt to produce a new batch of academics with the requisite grantsmanship skills.

With this initiative, the University aims to equip faculty members to contribute to the acquisition of knowledge and innovation across Africa.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC