The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is a public collegiate university located in the historic town of Cape Coast in the central region of Ghana. The campus has a rare seafront view and sits on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It operates on two campuses: the Southern Campus (Old Site) and the Northern Campus (New Site). Two of the most important historical sites in Ghana, Elmina and Cape Coast Castle, are a few kilometres away from its campus.
The University of Cape Coast was established in October 1962 as a university college in response to the country's dire need for highly qualified and skilled manpower in the education sector. Its original mandate was therefore to train graduate teachers for second cycle institutions, teacher training colleges and technical institutions, a mission that the two existing public universities at the time were unequipped to fulfil.
In 1972, the college attained the status of a full and independent university, with the authority to confer its own degrees, diplomas and certificates by an Act of Parliament. Today, with the expansion of some of its faculties/schools and the diversification of programmes, the university has the capacity to meet the manpower needs of other ministries and industries in the country, besides that of the Ministry of Education. The university has since added to its functions the training of doctors and health care professionals, business professionals, administrators, legal professionals, and agriculturalists such as agricultural extension agents. UCC graduates include Ministers of State, High Commissioners, CEOs, Members of Parliament, and Ghana's first female vice president.
Contents
History
The University of Cape Coast was established in October 1962 as a university college and placed in a special relationship with the University of Ghana, Legon. On 1 October 1971, the college attained the status of a full and independent University, with the authority to confer its own degrees, diplomas and certificates by an Act of Parliament.
The university was established out of a dire need for highly qualified and skilled manpower in education. Its original mandate was, therefore, to train graduate professional teachers for Ghana's second cycle institutions and the Ministry of Education in order to meet the manpower needs of the country's accelerated education programme at the time.
Today, with the expansion of some of its Faculties/Schools and the diversification of programmes, the university has the capacity to meet the manpower needs of other ministries and industries in the country, besides that of the Ministry of Education.
From an initial student enrollment of 155 in 1963, the University of Cape Coast now has a total student population of about 80,000.
The university started with two departments, namely: Arts and Science. These departments developed into Faculties in 1963. In order to achieve the set objectives, in 1964, the university created two more Faculties, namely: Education and Economics & Social Studies [now Faculty of Social Sciences].
The fifth faculty [School of Agriculture] was established in 1975.
The Faculty of Science was split into the Schools of Physical and Biological Sciences during the 2002←/2003 academic year while the Department of Business Studies was also elevated to the School of Business with effect from the 2003/2004 academic year. The Medical School and faculty of Law among others have been added.
The university now trains doctors and health care professionals, as well as education planners, administrators, agriculturalists, Accountants, lawyers etc. The University of Cape Coast (UCC) graduates include Ministers of State, High Commissioners, CEO's, and Members of Parliament.
Campuses
UCC has a satellite campus at Agona Nyakrom.
Old Site Campus
The Old Site Campus also known as the Southern Campus is located on high grounds, above the sea level, within the Apewosika and Kokoado communities in the Cape Coast metropolis. The strategic setting of the Old Site Campus within these two communities had increased socio-economic activities.
The Campus houses the university's Old Central Administration, the only female hall of residence, the Adehye Hall, the Atlantic Hall, Oguaa Hall, and University Hospital, which provides quality health service to the student population and the general public is located in here. The Department of Vocational and Technical Educational (VOTEC) is located at the old site campus.
New Site Campus
New Site Campus or Northern Campus, popularly known as "Science" is within a kilometer distance from Old Site is located near the Kwaprow and Amamoma communities. The Northern Campus came into being as a result of the growing number of students admitted into the university.
The Campus houses the only male hall of the university, Casley Hayford Hall. While other halls with both girls and boys include Kwame Nkrumah Hall, Valco Hall. there is also a Campus Broadcasting Center. It is the location of the Science Complex Building therefore the popular name "Science".
University Garden and the University Zoo are also located in the New Site Campus of the university.
Student population
From an initial student enrolment of 155 in 1963, the University of Cape Coast now has a total student population of 74,720. The breakdown is as follows: 18,949 regular undergraduate students, 1445 sandwich undergraduate students, 1014 regular postgraduate students, 2773 sandwich postgraduate students, 48,989 distance undergraduate students, and 1540 postgraduate distance students. The university admitted a total of 24,723 students into its various programs for the 2016/2017 academic year.
From 2016/2017 academic year till date, the population of the university keeps on increasing each year. Currently, the school has a student population of 78,485 with 41,165 (52.40%) male and 37,320 (47.60%) female student population, which in total is exactly 2,765 more than what they had in the 2016/2017 academic year. The breakdown of the student population in the 2022/2023 academic year is as follows: there have 9 sandwich students who are the only ones offering certificate in their various programs with 2 of them being males and 7 females. 11,539 diploma offering students with 11,234 being distance students (5,271 males and 5,963 females) and 305 sandwich students (132 males and 173 females). 60,406 undergraduates which entails of 23,537 regular students (13,072 males and 10,465 females), 16,260 distance students (8,324 males and 7,936 females), 1,241 sandwich students (561 males and 686 females) and 19,362 IOE sandwich students (9,937 males and 9,425 females). The population consists of 578 PhD students who are all regular students, with 372 males and 206 females. 305 PGDE students consisting of 71 distance students (29 males and 42 females) and 234 sandwich students (148 males and 86 females). 5,648 students doing their masters currently with 1,148 students being regular students (709 males and 439 females), 2,239 distance students (1,287 males and 952 females) and 2,261 sandwich students (1,321 males and 940 females).
Governance system
The University of Cape Coast is currently governed by a Council made of elected members from the university community and State appointees.
Members of Council
The governing body is known as the University Council and they consist of a Chairperson/Pro-Chancellor, Representative of Post-Graduate Students, Vice-Chancellor, three (3) Government Nominees, two (2) Representatives of Convocation, Representative of UTAG - UCC Branch, Representative of CHASS, Representative of TEWU of TUC, Representative of Alumni Association, Representative of Undergraduate Students, Representative of Post-Graduate Students, Representative of GTEC, Registrar, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Director of Finance and Council Secretariat, Office of the Registrar.
Principal officers
According to the statues of the university, principal officers of the university include the chancellor, pro-chancellor/chairperson, Vice-Chancellor, registrar and pro-vice-chancellor.
Academics
The University of Cape Coast is today organized into six colleges. Each college has different faculties, schools and departments under them as elaborated below;
College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences
Source:
Department of Physics
Department of Mathematics
Department of Statistics
Department of Laboratory Technology
Department of Computer Science & Information Technology
Department of Chemistry
Laser & Fibre Optics Centre
Industrial Chemistry Programme
Source:
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Department of Environmental Sciences
Department of Entomology & Wildlife
Department of Forensic Sciences
Department of Biochemistry
Source:
Department of Soil Science
Department of Crop Science
Department of Animal Science
Department of Agricultural Engineering
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension
College of Distance Education
Department of Business studies
Department of Education
Department of Mathematics and Science
College of Education Studies
Source:
Centre for Child Development Research and Referral
Counselling Centre
Department of Basic Education
Department of Education & Psychology
Department of Guidance and Counseling
Source:
Department of Arts Education
Department of Business and Social Sciences Education
Source:
Department of Health Science Education
Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation
Department of Mathematics & ICT Education
Department of Science Education
Department of Vocational & Technical Education
Source:
Centre for Educational Research, Evaluation and Development
Centre for Teacher Professional Development
Centre for Teaching Support
Institute of Education
College of Humanities and Legal Studies
Source:
Institute for Oil and Gas Studies
School for Development Studies (IDS)
Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Department of Population & Health
Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Department of Geography & Regional Planning
Department of Economics
Centre for Gender, Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD)
Micro-finance Unit
Centre for Data Archiving, Management, Analysis and Advocacy (C-DAMAA)
Source:
Information & Literacy Skills
Department of Theatre & Film Studies
Department of Religion and Human Values
Department of Music & Dance
Department of History
Department of Ghanaian Languages & Linguistics
Department of French
Department of English
Department of Communication Studies
College of Health & Allied Sciences
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Department of microbiology
• Department of Pharmaceutics
• Department of Pharmacotherapeutics and Pharmacy Practice
• Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine
Source:
Department of Nurse Anaesthesia
Department of Anaesthesia & Pain Management
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology & Fetal Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine & Therapeutics
Department of Chemical Pathology
Department of Community Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine & Therapeutics
Department of Medical Education & Information Technology
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Department of Pharmacology
Department of Paediatrics
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Source:
The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) of the University of Cape Coast came into being on 1 August 2008. It began as a Committee on Higher Degrees, with a mandate to advise Senate on the university's graduate policy and recommend the award of scholarship for approval. In 1992, the Committee on Higher Degrees was transformed to a Board of Graduate Studies. This Board, a sub-committee of Academic Board was entrusted with responsibility for administering graduate education in the university, until its status was elevated to a school on 1 August 2008. The school has the mandate to co-ordinate graduate-level academic programmes for all colleges within the university. It also regulates and offers advice on graduate programmes Archived 18 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine of university colleges affiliated to the University of Cape Coast.
To achieve its vision and mission, the school has four-fold functions:
Draft regulations for all higher degrees with a view to ensuring that acceptable academic standards are maintained.
Receive reports and consider recommendations pertaining to higher degrees and graduate diplomas from Departmental and Faculty Committee of Graduate Studies.
Determine the results of higher degrees and graduate diplomas.
Make recommendations to the Academic Board for the award of higher degrees and graduate diplomas.
The university operates a two-semester system for its regular graduate programmes Archived 18 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine. The First Semester begins from August to December and Second Semester from January to May. The university awards Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), Master of Commerce (M.Com.) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in the various disciplines.
Office of International Relations
The Office of International Relation (OIR), University of Cape Coast, formerly Center for International Education (CIE) was established to promote, support and coordinate all facets of international education activities in the university. These activities include international students and staff exchanges, research collaborations and publications, and information sharing, all aimed at enhancing the international image of the university.
Over the years, the centre had fostered links with institutions of higher learning from the US, China, UK, Sweden, Germany, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal, among others.
The centre offers specialized support services for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff on issues including, but not exclusive to, orientation, admission, enrollment, accommodation, pastoral care, pre-departure briefings and post-return debriefings for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff.
FUNCTIONS
The centre:
Manages all matters and programmes relating to international education.
Serves as an advisory unit to all academic departments on exchanges and collaborations.
Serves as a service provider on campus to all international and visiting students, faculty members and staff.
Is responsible for the development of Memorandum of Understanding or partnership agreements with institutions in and outside Ghana.
Facilitates the exchange of staff, faculty and students of partner institutions and vice versa.
Organizes international workshops, seminars and conferences.
Affiliated institutions
All Colleges of Education in Ghana
Pentecost University College
Christian Service University College
Palm Institute
Synergies Institute-Ghana
Fountainhead Christian College
Institute for Development and Technology Management
Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies (ISDES)
Klintaps University College
Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II Nursing Training College
Nduom School of Business and Technology
College of Health and Well-Being
College of Health, Yamfo
Halls of Residence
Oguaa Hall
Atlantic Hall (ATL)
Casely Hayford Hall (Casford)
Adehye Hall
Kwame Nkrumah Hall
Valco Hall
SRC Hall
Supernuation hall
Alumni Hall
Valco Trust Hall (Graduate Hall)
PSI Hall
Rankings and reputation
In September 2021, the University of Cape Coast was ranked by Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings as follows:
The No. 1 University in Africa for research influence (Globally)
The No. 1 University in Ghana
The No. 1 University in West Africa
Ranked amongst the top 5 Universities in Africa.
In October 2022, the university was again ranked the best in Ghana and West Africa. The 4th best in Africa and 24th in the world universities.
In July 2023, the university is still ranked as the best university in Ghana and 4th in Africa according to Times Higher Education Rankings.
Notable alumni
Edmund Abaka, photographer and professor of African history at the University of Miami
Rosina Acheampong, Ghanaian educationist and former headmistress of Wesley Girls High School
Alfred P. Addaquay, Ghanaian classical keyboardist, composer, arranger, conductor, choral director and singer
Emmanuel Addow-Obeng, Ghanaian academic, administrator and cleric. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and served as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Ghana
Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, author, magazine editor-in-chief and managing editor
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority
Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, former Minister of Education of the Republic of Ghana, first female Vice Chancellor of a public university in Ghana, first female vice presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress, the largest opposition political party in Ghana
Kofi Akpabli, Ghanaian journalist, writer, and publisher
Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister for Information from 1985 - 1993
Kwesi Ahwoi, Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa and Ghana's former Minister of Interior
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, member of Parliament for the Juaboso Constituency in the Western North Region and the Minister of Health
Aba Andam, Ghanaian particle physicist