UCC trains 400 lecturers in ICT in wake of COVID-19
Shirley Asiedu-Addo
Education
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has trained 400 lecturers in Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills to support the university’s aggressive shift towards online teaching and learning necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Chancellor of the university, Mr Sam Jonah, said the effects of the pandemic on education required that universities devised more effective ways to reach out to students.
In the circumstances, he said online teaching had become the new norm tertiary institutions were employing to stay competitive.
The Chancellor was speaking at the investiture of Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the UCC last Saturday.
Prof. Boampong took over from Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, who is on retirement.
The university also inducted its 13th Registrar, Mr Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame, into office. He takes over from Mr Kofi Nyan.
Additional training
Mr Jonah said 400 additional faculty staff would be trained to engage in effective quality online teaching, learning and testing.
He said the initiative was a bold and necessary step towards sustained quality education in the face of challenges posed by the pandemic.
Mr Jonah commended the management and faculties for the initiative but urged them to put in place adequate checks and balances of the new method of teaching to ensure the integrity of the system.
Assurance
Prof. Boampong gave an assurance that he would work to reposition the UCC as the global hub of creative thinkers offering demand-driven programmes integrated with practical entrepreneurial courses and innovative research for sustainable development.
He said the university would also provide quality, equitable and inclusive education to empower students to be independent, lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Leadership
The Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, said universities required the right leadership to be able to fulfil their mandate in undertaking quality and innovative research to find solutions to problems confronting society.
He expressed the hope that the new Vice Chancellor would galvanise resources at his disposal to achieve that goal.
For his part, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, urged Prof. Boampong to work towards sustaining the existing harmony on campus.
