The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah has affirmed the university’s commitment towards implementation of innovative ideas in postgraduate training to meet the national transformation agenda.
He indicated that the university, in line with its corporate strategy for 2018 to 2022, would continue charting innovative path to respond to international needs, through effective teaching, research and community engagement.
“We have continued to significantly broaden our knowledge base, mode of delivery and academic support especially for graduate studies,” Prof Ampiah said at the 52nd congregation of the university held here on Saturday.
A total of 6,210 individuals who completed their programme in various fields graduated from the university during the second to the fifth session held within a two-day period.
The graduating class was made up of 1,851 postgraduates and 4,359 undergraduates.
They included those who pursued the programme at the School of Graduate Studies, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, and the College of Education Studies.
Prof Ampiah indicated that, the School of Graduate Studies had tried to improve its ambiance for the promotion of academic and social life to be able to attract and train more graduate students for nation building.
He underscored the need for expanding facilities and getting clearance from the government to engage qualified academic staff for postgraduate teaching and research.
“We shall give attention to what it takes to have the increased enrolment to end up in increasing graduation rates but without compromising quality,” he said.
He said the School of Graduate Studies, through the colleges, was working to attract projects that would grant students scholarship for postgraduate programmes.
Highlighting on some key achievement by the university, Prof Ampiah said, the National Varietal Release and Registration Committee (NVRRC) had recommended seven developed cowpeas for approval and release as varieties by the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
He explained that, “Following the release of the cowpea varieties, seeds will be multiplied and made available for farmers to cultivate.”
That, he noted, would contribute to job creation, poverty reduction, and food security.
“The outcome of the project is in line with government’s ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ flagship programme,” he noted.
The V-C further explained that four of the varieties were expected to boost high production in northern Ghana where striga infestation and drought were major challenges facing farmers.
The new cowpea varieties, he said, were Yor-Kpitio, Aduapa, UCC-Early, Aluba-Kpole, Asare-Moya, Saka-Buro and Kum-Zoya.
Prof Ampiah said that, the project was being funded by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of UCC, Mrs Nancy Thompson, in her welcome address, commended the School of Graduate Studies for its efforts towards delivering graduate education to meet critical manpower needs of the country.
She urged the graduates to use the knowledge and skills they had acquired to contribute to national development.
FROM DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH, CAPE COAST
