The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has welcomed a delegation from Dublin City University (DCU) to explore opportunities for collaboration aimed at strengthening academic excellence, research development, and international engagement between the two institutions.
The delegation, comprising Professor Cliona O'Sullivan and Dr Sarah Meegan, visited UCC as part of efforts to foster international partnerships and advance research excellence. The delegation was hosted by Dr Beatrice E. A. Sankah, Lecturer and Physiotherapist in the Department of Sports and Exercise Science, whose professional and academic association with Prof Cliona O'Sullivan contributed to fostering the collaboration between the two institutions.
The visitors were hosted by the Department of Sport and Exercise Science of the School of Allied Health Sciences. Discussions centred on establishing mutually beneficial collaborations and enhancing academic ties between the two universities.
The visit was undertaken to deepen understanding of the University of Cape Coast’s (UCC) Physiotherapy and Sports Science programmes while also strengthening the existing partnership in physiotherapy education and research between the two institutions. In addition, the visit provided an opportunity to explore collaborative initiatives in research, teaching, and scholarship within the areas of Sports and Exercise Science, Human Performance, and Physical Education. Discussions were also initiated toward the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering a sustainable long-term institutional partnership.
During the week-long engagement, During the visit, the delegation gained first-hand insight into UCC’s Physiotherapy and Sports Science programmes through tours of key university facilities and clinical visits to the Physiotherapy Departments of the University of Cape Coast Hospital and Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, the Kwaprow Health Centre in Cape Coast, and the Mephibosheth Training Centre in Apam, Ghana. These engagements fostered knowledge exchange, the sharing of best practices in healthcare delivery and clinical education, and discussions with students on international learning opportunities, research collaboration, professional development, and career pathways.
A key aspect of the visit involved strategic discussions with faculty and university leadership from several departments and centres across UCC to explore opportunities for collaboration in research, teaching, scholarship, and student engagement. These engagements resulted in a roadmap for future partnerships, including joint research, collaborative teaching, staff and student mobility, and plans toward a formal Memorandum of Understanding between UCC and DCU, with Prof. O’Sullivan commending UCC’s hospitality and highlighting the strong potential for long-term collaboration.
As part of the visit, the DCU team paid a courtesy call to the Dean of the Office of International Relations (OIR), UCC. During the meeting, the delegation outlined plans to formalise the partnership through an institutional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would provide a framework for future department-specific agreements and collaborative initiatives.
The DCU representatives indicated that the proposed partnership would seek to leverage international funding opportunities to support joint research projects, staff and student exchange programmes, and capacity-building initiatives. They noted that such collaborations would contribute to impactful health research while enhancing the global exposure and learning experiences of students and staff of both institutions.
Welcoming the delegation, the Dean of OIR, Professor Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, noted that the discussions reflected the shared commitment of UCC and DCU to advancing academic excellence through meaningful institutional partnerships.
He expressed optimism about the prospects of the collaboration and indicated that both institutions would explore opportunities under programmes such as the Erasmus+ Programme to support academic mobility, collaborative research, and capacity-building initiatives.
Prof. Boadi-Kusi added that the partnership had the potential to deepen international cooperation and create valuable opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty members of both universities.
Beyond the academic programme, the DCU delegation experienced Ghana's rich cultural heritage through visits to the Kakum National Park, Cape Coast Castle, and Elmina Castle and township, providing an opportunity to appreciate the country's history, culture and tourism
