UCC Is Ready to Formalize Collaboration with University at Buffalo-Vice-Chancellor

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has indicated the University of Cape Coast’s commitment to strengthen its relationship with the University at Buffalo (UB) in the United States of America. Prof. Ampiah noted that the two universities had been working together through exchange of expertise, experience and best practices even though the relationship was yet to be formalized at the institutional level. Prof. Ampiah said this when he received two officials from UB who were at the UCC for a working visit. The visit was supported by the UB School of Management’s Dean, Professor Paul Tesluk as part of his strategic plan for the UB School of Management and encouraged by Vice Provost for University Libraries, Madam Austin Booth as part of her continued efforts towards global open access and resource sharing. The two officials were professor Dr. Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah (Clinical Assistant Professor) and Cynthia Tysick (Associate Librarian). Introducing the UB Team to the Vice Chancellor, a Research Fellow at Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), Dr. Mike Boakye-Yiadom thanked the Vice Chancellor for his support of the UCC-UB partnership, and encouraged the participating departments at UCC to invest in the programmes for the mutual benefit of the two institutions. The Vice-Chancellor commended UB’s School of Management and University Libraries for exhibiting keen interest in the collaboration adding, “UCC is ready to formalize its relationship with UB so that we can continue with the good work we have started.” He expressed confidence that both institutions would benefit immensely from the collaboration especially in the area of awarding joint certificates, exchange of faculty members and students. Briefing the Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of the visit, professor Dr. Siaw-Asamoah said they were currently working with the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA); School of Business (SoB) and the Sam Jonah Library. She explained that UB was introducing a year-long Leadership Development Programme to selected MBA and M. ED. Educational Administration Sandwich students in IEPA and SoB. As the facilitator of the course, she said UCC students taking the course as part of their respective programmes have been very phenomenal in terms of their appreciation of the topics and high level engagement. Dr. Siaw-Asamoah also assured the Vice-Chancellor that UB was prepared to partner with UCC to enhance the reputation and visibility of both institutions on the African continent and globally. She informed the Vice-Chancellor that faculty and students from UB have indicated their willingness to play active role in the collaboration. Dr. Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah highly commended Dr. Mike Boakye-Yiadom for being the brainchild of the UCC-UB partnership. On her part Madam Tysick said she had been interacting with staff of the Sam Jonah Library on how to improve of the services to the University Community. She said UB Library would continue to share best practices with UCC Sam Jonah Library in order to create visibility for the University. Mr. Kwame Boohene who was also present at the meeting said the interaction had been very helpful to staff of Sam Jonah Library especially in the area of customizing and marketing the services of the library to promote visibility for UCC. He prayed the good relationship that had begun between the two Universities would be sustained and improved upon. It would be recalled that Dr. Mara Huber, UB Associate Dean for Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning and Madam Cynthia Shore, Senior Assistant Dean and Director of External Relations led a delegation to visit UCC in January 2017 to discuss collaboration between the two Universities. Present at the meeting were Director of IEPA, Dr. Rosemary Bosu; Research Fellow at IEPA, Dr. Mike Boakye-Yiadom; Deputy Librarian Mrs. Paulina Afful-Arthur; and Dr. Mensah Abrampah of the Department of Management Studies, SoB.