The Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU) has held its 9th Conference at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) with a call on stakeholders to promote quality tertiary education in the sub-region.
The three-day conference was on the theme, “Promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa through collaboration, regional integration and technology.”
The event brought together stakeholders in education including scholars, tertiary education managers and researchers from West Africa to discuss modern strategies to advance quality tertiary education.
The Registrar of the Joint Admission Board of Nigeria (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in a keynote speech read on his behalf, noted that quality education, collaboration, regional integration and technology were prerequisite solutions to the intractable problems of poverty, under development, unemployment and misgovernance.
“This should advance, for us, mutual reinforcement of values designed to benefit from the changing trends in higher education globally” he continued.
Prof. Oloyede, therefore, called for policies aimed at providing financial assistance to tertiary institutions to enhance research and knowledge generation.
He added that the penchant for education beyond the sub-region called for strenuous efforts to resource retarded institutions into making them attractive to provide quality education for career enhancement, skills and employability among others.
Prof. Oloyede indicated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) had emerged as a game-changer for tertiary institutions across the globe.
He, however, pointed out the widespread concern about AI on ethical issues, mentioning Chat GPT, and called for effective regulations to guard its use in the education sector.
He said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education was necessary for technological advancement and an essential tool to develop the continent.
According to him, “STEM education is a transformative force that opens doors of opportunities, offering young minds the skills needed to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century.”
He mentioned some of the remarkable achievements of the JAMB, a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions and added that the Board was ready to share its success story with other tertiary institutions in West Africa.
For example, Prof. Oloyede said that JAMB had sanctioned foreign tertiary institutions awarding fake certificates to persons who did not deserve them.
He added that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo, as well as, banning 18 foreign universities operating in Nigeria.
The acting Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, addressing the conference, said promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa required giant steps from all major stakeholders.
"For us at GTEC, we believe that quality, as a requirement in tertiary educational delivery, is not just a need but a necessity; stressing that accreditation was a basic requirement for quality assurance, one that guaranteed adherence to the tenets, norms and standards of practice, he said.
Ag. Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai
According to him, collaboration, regional integration and technology could be enhanced through quality tertiary educational delivery, calling for minimum operational standards for delivery to guide tertiary education managers.
He urged private tertiary institutions in Ghana to adhere to the GTEC directive to charter or risk being closed down after the expiration of the application window of August 2024.
Prof. Jinapor Abdulai said GTEC was leaving no stone unturned to revamp tertiary education delivery in Ghana to attract foreign resource mobilisation to grow the Ghanaian economy.
The Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, in an address, urged the public not to throw caution to the wind and fall victim to the fake certificate syndicates in the sub-region.
He underlined the need for credible tertiary institutions to come together to wage relentless war against the increasing spate of certificate racketeering that all tertiary institutions were grappling with.
“Quite recently, … others are using Cape Coast University to produce certificates for unsuspecting persons. So, you should be careful when you see any certificate with Cape Coast University, then it is not coming from the University of Cape Coast because we give hard-earned certificates” he noted.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC
The Director of the Africa Centre on Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Denis Aheto, has started work as the TD Walter Bean Professor in Environment for 2024 at the University of Waterloo.
As part of his appointment, Prof Aheto is expected to deliver lectures on the topic on Africa's plastic revolution of and will explore how the global community can transform the challenges facing our oceans into opportunities for growth to bolster sustainable development and stimulate socioeconomic transformation.
The lectures are scheduled for 5 -7 March, 2024.
Importance of the TD Walter Bean Professorship
The TD Walter Bean Professorship aims to attract top international research professors on the environment to campus to build the knowledge and skills necessary for society to address complex environmental issues. Described as a "fitting testament" to the late Walter Bean’s legacy of community involvement and commitment to youth, education and community, the professorship is made possible thanks to the generosity of TD Canada Trust and their commitment to building a sustainable future together with their partners.
Source:Documentation and Information Section
The University of Cape Coast (UCC), through the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), has received international accreditation from the Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics (ASIIN) for fulfilling the institutional, procedural and cultural requirements for good teaching and successful learning.
The accreditation, according to a letter jointly signed by Prof. Dr. Kathrin Lehmann and Prof. Dr. Gert Ingold, who are Chairpersons of the Accreditation Commission, as well as Dr. Iring Wasser, the Managing Director of ASIIN, is valid from 8th December 2023 to 19th January 2025.
International Accreditation Certificate
"The results of the ASIIN review procedure are specified in a published report which documents the achieved maturity levels of the University of Cape Coast in the following areas:
i. Definition of Quality
ii. Educational Programmes / Courses / Trainings
iii. Management of Resources
iv. Transparency and Documentation," the one-page letter added.
According to ASIIN, the accreditation is a fulfillment of the Disbursement Linked Results (DLR)7 on the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Impact Project of the World Bank, facilitated by the Association of African Universities (AAU).
Source: Documentation and Information Section
The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has inaugurated the reconstituted members of the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) at a ceremony in Accra.
Reconstituted Council
The reconstituted Governing Council is chaired by Rev. Prof. Harold Amonoo- Kuofi. Members include: Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice-Chancellor; Most Rev. Titus Awotwi Pratt, DCOP Patrick Adusei Sarpong (rtd), Dr. Maame Adwoa Gyekye-Jandoh- President’s Nominees).
Other members are Prof. Eric Anane- Convocation (Professorial); Dr. Justus P. Deikumah-Convocation (Non-Professorial); Dr. Jerry Opoku-Ansah- University Teachers Association of Ghana, UCC Branch; Mr. Vincent Kojo Siabi- Undergraduate Students; Mr. Kwabena Adjepong-Postgraduate Students; Mr. Mohammed A. Quantson-Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools and Samuel Danso Akoto- UCC Alumni Association.
The representatives for Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) and Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) are still pending.
Transform UCC
In his address at the ceremony, Dr. Adutwum charged the chairman and members to work towards transforming UCC to pursue its mandate of training high calibre human resource for the development of the nation.
Dr. Adutwum noted that UCC had a special place in the heart of Ghanaians and implored on the Council to continue to improve on the University’s best practices.
He noted that even though UCC had introduced several programmes in other disciplines, the University must still lead the way in education in Ghana. " UCC must bring out great ideas that will change our space and that is expected of us as Ghanaians- you take over something and change it to the benefit of all" he added.
Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
He commended UCC for its enviable status as a leading university in Africa and urged the Council to unite to support the institution to sustain that feat.
"UCC has a unique selling advantage and if you put it to good use, you'll be the University of Competitive Choice that you trumpet about. Come together as a Council to transform UCC because Ghana can't wait," he advised.
Dr. Adutwum noted that the education sector of the nation was undergoing major transformations and therefore implored Council to ensure that UCC also worked towards that direction. He mentioned the establishment of Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) centres as well as state-of-the-art basic schools with advanced facilities in all the regions of Ghana as some of the manifestations of transformation.
Commitment and Integrity
In his response, the Chairman of UCC Governing Council thanked the Minister of Education for finding them worthy to serve the nation.
Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi promised that they would work hard with commitment and integrity to uplift the University and address the weaknesses that come to their notice.
He indicated that UCC would be repositioned to respond to the National Education Transformation agenda of government to address stakeholders demands for quality manpower development, entrepreneurship, and value for money.
"It therefore, behoves on us as Council to steer the University to respond to the changing dynamics of educational strategy of the government so that we can contribute effectively to the wave of industrialisation in the nation" he assured.
Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi reaffirmed the commitment of the reconstituted Council to prioritise efforts to promote a congenial academic and learner friendly environment.
Present at the ceremony were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene and the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame who is also Secretary to Council.
Source: Documentation and Information Section
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Co-operative Credit Union has handed over a high-powered delivery bed to the University Health Services.
The advanced bed can be adjusted to the comfort and sleeping positions of heavily pregnant women for successful deliveries.
The humanitarian gesture was to show love as part of the UCC Credit Union’s social responsibility activities.
Presentation
At a short ceremony held at the premises of the University Hospital Maternity Block to present the delivery bed, the Chairperson of the UCC Co-operative Credit Union, Mrs. Charity Abraham, said providing a delivery bed for admission of expectant women formed a critical part of maternal health.
She said management of the University alone would not be able to provide the needs of the UCC Hospital and, therefore, corporate organisations need to come on board to support in that regard.
Dr. James kojo Prah conducting the delegation from UCC Credit Union around the maternity block
Mrs. Abraham used the opportunity to appeal to the Hospital to take good care of the bed to ensure a longer life span, since its maintenance would go a long way to improve maternal and child health at the Hospital.
Appreciation
The Director of University Health Services, Dr James Kojo Prah, who received the item, expressed the Hospital’s appreciation to the UCC Credit Union for the kind gesture, which he said would augment health delivery.
He said the donation came to them as a surprise and, therefore, appealed to UCC Credit Union to continue with its good surprises.
Dr. Prah gave the assurance that the bed would be put to its intended use so it benefits the society.
Some board and management members of UCC Co-operative Credit Union after the donation
He said the doors of the Hospital were always open to all others capable of supporting its operations.
Dr Prah, therefore, made a passionate appeal to internally-generated units within the University and corporate Ghana to support the Hospital with equipment to enhance quality healthcare delivery.
Source: Documentation and Information Section
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, has noted that the success of any educational institution does not rest only on the dedication of its faculty and staff but also on the support and involvement of its alumni.
Prof. Boampong indicated that UCC’s alumni possessed a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources that could be harnessed for the growth and development of the institution.
Speaking at a reception at the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge for members of the UCC Alumni Council, Prof. Boampong said on assumption of office, he embarked on a mission to strengthen the bond between the University and its alumni.
Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong
To this end, his administration had been resourcing the Institutional Advancement Office to reorganise and strengthen alumni activities in all the regions of Ghana and abroad. “We have sponsored them to the United States of America to understudy some of our partner universities so they can mobilise our alumni to be part and parcel of this University,” he noted.
Prof. Boampong expressed gratitude to the President of the Association and his executives for reinvigorating alumni activities in almost all regions in the country and even establishing chapters in the US and some countries in Europe.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that the alumni had a unique role to play in shaping the future of UCC, highlighting the importance of their contributions in the form of financial support, mentorship programmes, internship opportunity for students in their organisations, investing in projects on campus among others.
Prof. Boampong, therefore, urged alumni of UCC to sustain the giant feat and refrain from acts that would mar the reputation of the University.
In his response, the President of UCC Alumni Association, Mr. Samuel Akoto, commended the Vice-Chancellor for his deep interest in the activities of the Association. “We are marveled by the support the Vice-Chancellor was offering to the Association especially to the current executives” he averred.
Mr. Samuel Akoto
Mr. Akoto pledged the support of the Association both financially and through various other means to help the University to maintain its status as the leading University of Excellence in Africa and beyond.
The President of the association added that with an influx of resources and expertise from the alumni network, the University was going to enjoy a new relationship with its alumni which would reinforce the UCC’s position as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.
Source: Documentation and Information Section
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Alumni Council has pledged to give back to the University that has nurtured and shaped their lives.
As part of its give-back agenda, the Council - made up of the leadership of some chapters of the UCC Alumni Association across the globe - tabled a raft of proposals at a meeting with management of the University.
Among the plans is the introduction of Alumni Student Support Scholarship to help brilliant but needy students of the University.
Members of the council also delved into various issues including the Management of University Alumni Hostel, Alumni Home Coming, Alumni Leadership Lecture Series, among others.
Speaking at the meeting, held at the Council Chamber, the President of the UCC Alumni Association, Mr. Samuel Akoto, reiterated the commitment of the Association to ensure that UCC maintained its enviable position as the best university in Ghana and West Africa.
Mr. Samuel Akoto, President of the UCC Alumni Association.
On behalf of the Council, he pledged to do more for the University to enhance teaching and learning.
He praised the University for producing world-class personalities in both academia and professional disciplines.
He said the Association was poised to rally its strong alumni base across the globe in a bid to get every beneficiary of the noble institution to give back to the University.
Prof. Rosemond Boohene, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC
On her part, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, expressed gratitude to the members of the UCC alumni Council.
She said management of the University was ready to partner with the Alumni Council to achieve the vision of the UCC.
Prof. Boohene pointed out that the University had grown in leaps and bounds and accommodation for students was the major challenge facing management.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor, therefore, implored the Alumni Council to use its "networks and contacts" to woo developers to build ultra-modern hostels to reduce the increasing accommodation deficiency of the University.
At the meeting, some of the Council members recalled with nostalgia the period of their stay in the University, including the fun, values, and quality of education they received.
Present at the meeting were the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame and Provost, College of Education Studies, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis.
Source: Documentation and Information Section