Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong and Mr. Jeff T. E. Onyame assumed duty as Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University respectively on Monday, 3rd August, 2020.

As part of their schedule for the first day in office, the they visited some office holders at the Central Administration and the Colleges to thank them for attending their investiture. They called for their support to build on the solid foundation that has already been laid by their predecessors. 

Pro Vice-Chancellor

Interacting with the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh, the Vice-Chancellor noted that she was one of the key officers they would be working with to manage the University. He called for her support to execute his vision for the University. “We look forward to a good working relationship with you and other office holders to reposition UCC as an Entrepreneurial University,” he noted. 

Mr. Onyame said he had no doubt that Prof. Edu-Buandoh was ready to work with them to move the University on a higher pedestal. The Registrar informed the Pro Vice-Chancellor that they would have another interactive session with staff of all directorates and colleges in the University to discuss the vision of the Vice-Chancellor.

Responding, the Pro Vice-Chancellor assured the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of her unflinching support noting that “We are all here to serve the University so I will give my maximum support to achieve your vision”.

Director of Finance

The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar continued their tor to the Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese. The Vice-Chancellor said he would need her maximum cooperation to achieve his vision for the University. He noted that his vision for the University could only be achieved if funds were made available to execute the strategies he had outlined “We will need money to accomplish this vision and I will count on you to guide us to follow the laid down procedures,” he noted.

Mrs. Obese thanked the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar for the visit and assured them of a fruitful working relationship.

Director of Internal Audit

At the Directorate of Internal Audit, the Vice-Chancellor told the Director, Mr. Emmanuel P. Owusu that he would be firm and fair in dealing with everybody in the University. He indicated that he would need his advice on financial issues in order to go strictly according to the new Public Financial Management Act, 2016.  “I want to be very transparent in all aspects so the checks and balances should be there to ensure that we are all on the right path,” he indicated.
Mr. Owusu thanked the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor for the visit and indicated that he would always be there to guide them to take the right decisions in terms of the finances of the University.

Director of Legal Consular and General Services

The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar proceeded to the Directorate of Legal Consular and General Services and were received by the Director, Mrs. Alberta Graham. They asked for her cooperation to steer the affairs of the University.
Mrs. Graham on her part congratulated them and pledged her full support and collaboration to make their tenure of office successful.

Director of Human Resources

The next point of call for the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar was at the office of the Director of Human Resources, Rev. Isaac Baafi Sarbeng. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Directorate of Human Resources was one of the important directorates in the University since all records were at their disposal. Prof. Boampong said he would be transparent, honest, fair, firm, and accountable in his duties as Vice-Chancellor.

Rev. Sarbeng said no office holder in the University worked as an independent person and therefore, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar should be assured of his loyalty and support.

Director of Public Affairs

From there, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar visited the Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (Rtd.) at his office. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Directorate has played a significant role in the visibility of the University and therefore, called on the Director to offer them the needed support to make the activities known to the public. He indicated that the Directorate would be resourced to effectively carry out its mandate effectively.
Major Baah-Bentum said he was humbled by the visit and pledged his loyalty and total support and intimated that whenever he was in doubt he would seek their counsel.

Director of Physical Development and Estate Management

The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar proceeded to the Directorate of Physical Development and Estate Management (DPDEM) where they met the Director, Mr. Philip Ntim, and his sectional heads. The Vice-Chancellor noted that in his vision he outlined a number of issues where the services of the Directorate would be needed. He said it was extremely important to improve on the architectural landscape of the University adding that “DPDEM will feature prominently in what I seek to do and I admonish the Director and his team to work together for us to achieve this”.

The Registrar said they were willing to take the views, suggestions and counsel of everybody so the Director of DPDEM and his team should feel comfortable to discuss issues relating to the Vice-Chancellor’s vision. “We all need to stick to the rules and in doing this we will respect your views and together, we can address problems,” he noted.

Mr. Ntim thanked the Vice-Chancellor and noted that he had scheduled a meeting with his team to also draw a plan based on the VC’s vision. “We want to contribute our quota towards achieving this vision for the present and next generation to appreciate what we have done for this University,” he added.

Director of Information and Communication Technology

The Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar also called on the Director of Information and Communication Technology (DICTS), Dr. Regina Gyampoh-Vidogah. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Directorate had enormous role to play especially at a time when educational institutions were resorting to e-learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the Directorate would be equipped further to facilitate teaching, learning, and research in the University.
Dr. Gyampoh-Vidogah said there had been an improvement in the Network Operating Centre, therefore, given the necessary support, the Directorate would be able to operate at its optimum.

Provost of CoDE

From DICTS, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar visited the Provost of the College of Distance Education (CoDE), Prof. Isaac K. A. Galyuon. Prof. Boampong said CoDE was the college with the highest number of students and there was the need to provide them with the best of services. He said the provost was holding one of the biggest portfolios among all the colleges.  He said the provost would be engaged to further discuss how the restructuring of the College could be implemented to ensure that CoDE effectively performed its mandate of providing quality distance education.

In his response, Prof. Galyuon said the competition among universities in distance education was getting very keen but assured that “Together we will put in more effort to maintain UCC’s position as the pioneer institution in distance education offering quality academic services to students”.

Provost of CANS

From CoDE, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, ended the “thank you” tour for the day at the office of the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Moses Jojo Eghan and some deans in the College. The Vice-Chancellor said he would need their support to achieve his plan to put up an integrated laboratory to serve the needs of all departments offering science related programmes. He said Science and Technology were controlling the world and stated that “We will make a lot of investment in Science and Technology in order to bring out compelling innovations that will solve problems in our country”.

Prof. Eghan thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his interest in establishing Mega laboratories in the University and noted that this was very dear to his heart. “We conceived this idea long ago and even introduced it to our sister universities but they have implemented it and we are still here lagging behind because the Science Annex building has not been completed.”

The 2000 Alumni Year Group of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management has donated computers and accessories valued at GH¢ 40,000 to enhance teaching, learning and research at the Department.

Presentation

Presenting the computers, a representative of the group, Prof. Ishmael Mensah, noted that the donation was intended to equip students with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills so that they could become competitive after their university education. He indicated that the donation formed part of their contribution towards the 10th anniversary project. 

Prof. Mensah explained that the alumni decided to establish a computer laboratory for the Department and each year groups was asked to donate towards the project. “I must say the 2000 Year Group set the pace and because it is our 10th anniversary we decided to do something more substantial,” he indicated.

NComputing

He said the computers used one of the latest applications known as “Ncomputing” He explained that the “NComputing desktop virtualization is a modern concept where multiple users share the central processing unit (CPU) of single computer. This approach has several advantages over the traditional PC model, including lower overall costs, better energy efficiency, and simplified administration,” he noted.

Appreciation

The Head of Department, Dr. (Mrs.) Eunice Fay Amissah, commended the 200 year group for the gesture. She noted that the donation. She indicated that the donation would help the Department to achieve one of the aims of the Department’s 10th anniversary. “These computers will go a long way to enhance teaching and learning especially in courses like Computer Applications in Hospitality and Tourism, Front Office Management, Ticketing and Reservation. Tour Operating Management among others,” she explained.

Practical Nature

Dr. Amissah said because of the practical nature of the programmes, the computers would help to provide hands-on skills and experience to the students. She assured that the computers would be put to good so that more students could have access to them. She used the opportunity to appeal to other year groups of the Department to emulate the example of the 2000 year group adding that the Department is facing more challenges, hence, we will require their support.

The Head of Department announced that the Department would soon conduct tracer studies to find out how its students were faring in their respective places of work. “We want to know where our students are and in what in what capacities,” she added. 

The new Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, has indicated his commitment to lead the process of transforming the University into a World Class Entrepreneurial University with a global competitive edge.

To achieve this, Prof. Boampong said “My vision is to reposition UCC as the global hub of creative thinkers, offering demand-driven programmes, integrated with practical entrepreneurial courses and actively translating the products of its innovative research, for sustainable development.”

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that his vision would be realised by ensuring that “the University creates a niche by providing quality, equitable and inclusive education that empowers the graduates to be independent, lifelong learners and responsible citizens, who have passion for job creation while contributing to public service”.

Prof. Boampong made these statements during his investiture as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University. At the same function, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame was inducted as the new Registrar.
 

Strategies   

Outlining the strategies to achieve his vision, the new Vice-Chancellor said he would provide exemplary academic leadership and operate an all-inclusive governance system by focusing on increasing students’ intake and ensuring their success and welfare as well as prioritising academic distinctiveness. In addition, he noted that his administration would   generate revenue and maintain fiscal discipline; enhance visibility and promote internationalization; and also create an organisational culture and improve efficiency and effectiveness of the governance system.
    
The Vice-Chancellor said under his leadership, the University would work to produce ethically responsible graduates with employable and entrepreneurial skills. “This requires a thorough audit of all academic programmes, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, to promote harmonization, in order to reduce duplication of courses at various departments” He stressed that “New demand-driven programmes will, therefore, be introduced and a stimulus fund for STEM and Entrepreneurship education created”.

Concept of "Entrepreneurial University"

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the concept of “Entrepreneurial University” was the emerging trend stressing that “What makes this emerging concept significant and appealing to me, particularly within these uncertain times, is how the COVID-19 pandemic has called to question existing paradigms, and, is attempting to redirect our focus to novel ways of doing things”.

Prof. Boampong indicated that though he was a scientist, he had come to the realisation that the concept of the Entrepreneurial University was the catalyst for development of the University. “My primary calling and career trajectory has been that of a scientist but, having interacted widely with both industry and the academy throughout my professional life, I come into this academic conversation with an intimate connection and passion for innovation that the concept of Entrepreneurial Universities evokes” he explained.

Coming from the background as an entrepreneur, Prof. Boampong explained that “My understanding of a world class entrepreneurial university is one that seeks to work out a substantial shift in organizational character so as to arrive at a more promising posture for the future”. In his opinion, an Entrepreneurial University seeks to become “stand-up” university that is a significant actor in its own terms. 

UCC Design Thinking and Business Development Centre  

One of the ways Prof. Boampong said he would accomplish his vision was to upgrade the School of Business Incubation Centre and resource it into a university-wide Entrepreneurial Centre to be called UCC Design Thinking and Business Development Centre.  “This Centre will collaborate with the Ministry for Business Development, Industry, financial institutions and UCC Enterprise Limited, to reinforce practical entrepreneurship and nurture the entrepreneurial talents of students, and assist them to create and manage their businesses, and/or possibly partner the University to run joint ventures,” he explained.

To further strengthen practice-oriented teaching and learning activities, Prof. Boampong said the Centre for Teaching Support, would be restructured into Teaching and Learning Support Centre which would include an Instructional Design Unit for the organisation of workshops for lecturers and other tutors in UCC affiliated institutions. He indicated that the Centre would run Professional Education programmes for teachers at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Prof. Boampong also said he would resource existing laboratories and linked them to form integrated laboratories to strengthen research. “Efforts will also be made, to create General Physical Laboratories where expensive equipment will be kept, for common use” he pledged. He said DRIC would be tasked to collaborate with UCC Design Thinking and Business Development Centre to guarantee that research outputs are translated and developed further to create businesses.

Partnership with Industry

Furthermore, to make the University relevant to changing trends and also support various government policies, Prof. Boampong stated that existing partnerships with industry would be expanded by co-opting experts from industry, to be part of the deliberations of Departments, Faculties and Colleges, for their expert advice and guidance.

The Vice-Chancellor said the proposed University-wide Entrepreneurial Centre would work in collaboration with identifiable units to create viable businesses where UCC has competitive advantage.  

He said his administration would encourage Workers’ Unions and other entities to partner the University to create new businesses, and part of the profits, would be used to enhance the welfare of the workers. “Similarly, financial disciplinary procedures to procure goods and services will be followed,” he added.

Other areas the new Vice-Chancellor mentioned would receive attention under his leadership were physical and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, research, university-community/stakeholders relations, enhancing visibility and internationalisation of the University. 
    

 Present at the function were the Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II; Minister of State in-charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah; Central Regional Minister, Mr. Kwamena Duncan, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Tsutomu Himeno. The rest are the Chairman of National Accreditation Board, Prof. Kofi Awusabo-Asare; Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh; Heads of other public and private tertiary institutions; former Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of UCC, members of UCC Council; Provosts, Deans, Directors, clergy, and some members of Convocation.