The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is one of the rare sea-front universities in the world, providing a unique and serene environment for academic pursuits. Established in October 1962 and formally inaugurated on December 15, UCC has experienced significant growth over the decades. From its humble beginning with 155 students, the university's student population has expanded to 88,092 by the end of the 2022/2023 academic year. The University provides a broad range of programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, further emphasising its role as a leading centre of higher learning in Ghana and beyond. As a member of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), UCC is keen on conducting responsible research, which helps to solve critical issues in all disciplines. The University of Cape Coast was ranked as the number one university in Ghana and West Africa by the Times Higher Education (THE) in its World University Rankings for 2022 to 2024. These achievements reflect UCC's dedication to academic excellence and research and its impactful contributions to higher education regionally and globally.
Like most graduate schools worldwide, the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), UCC coordinates the academic activities of all postgraduate students in the University. Since its inception, it has promoted and strengthened research capacity and output to position the UCC as a centre of excellence. The SGS creates a facilitating environment for teaching, learning, and training graduate students equipped with initiative and leadership in critical sectors of inter/national endeavours in conformity with the mission and objectives outlined in the University’s strategic plan. The school also engages in outreach programmes such as organising academic conferences.
The last international conference organised by SGS had the theme, "Changing the Orientation of Post Graduate Education for the 21st Century held from 12th to 14th June 2018 at the University of Cape Coast. Academic conferences serve as crucial platforms to deliberate on emerging and contemporary issues and create spaces for exchanging ideas and views among scholars, students, academics, practitioners and other stakeholders to generate information for further research and policy reform. The conference had a significant impact by connecting research scholars and students and establishing links with universities and academia.
The COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have made organising the next conference impossible until now. The SGS intends for the postgraduate conference to be biannual going forward.
Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo is the immediate past Pro- Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, a Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health, a Consultant Public Health Physician, and a Researcher.
He has extensive experience in resource mobilisation, grantsmanship, research management, clinical trials and community-based research implementation. His research interests lie in pandemic preparedness, epidemic-prone diseases, vaccine development and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Currently, he leads KNUST’s Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative, funded by the Mastercard Foundation.
Prof. Owusu-Dabo currently has over 300 scientific publications, 26000+ citations, an hi index of 51 and an i10 index of 156, making him one of Ghana’s top five research scientists. Ellis is a Perelman International Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He has travelled extensively and serves on several boards at both local and international levels, thus providing a massive network for work. His passion is building next-generation scientists' capacities and health systems to help solve Africa’s health challenges through scientific innovation and research collaborations.
Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo received his PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK, and a BSc, MPH and MB ChB from KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. He has additional qualifications from both the Ghana and West Africa Colleges of Physicians.
CONFERENCE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Conference
The conference's goal is to provide a platform for postgraduate students, researchers, and industry professionals to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and share innovative
solutions that enhance community resilience and development in Africa.
Objectives of the Conference
The objectives of the conference are:
- To provide a platform for postgraduate students to present their research and receive feedback.
- To foster interdisciplinary collaboration and networking among postgraduate researchers.
- To discuss current trends, challenges, and opportunities in postgraduate education and research.
- To connect postgraduate researchers with industry and public sector professionals.
- To enhance skills through workshops and training sessions on academic writing, publication, and research methodologies.
CONFERENCE DATE:
Tuesday 18TH to Thursday 20th March 2025
CONFERENCE VENUE:
School of Graduate Studies Building Complex, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
CONFERENCE THEME AND SUB-THEMES
The Conference Theme
Transforming Communities: Postgraduate Education and Research for Resilience and Development in Africa
This theme acknowledges the role of postgraduate education in equipping future leaders and scholars to shape Africa’s trajectory towards sustainable development, resilience, and self-reliance. In the face of economic, social, and environmental instability, resilience has become a central theme for Africa's future. The link between postgraduate education and community transformation cannot be overstated. Graduate-level research often addresses local needs and contexts, leading to practical, grassroots solutions. The theme emphasizes a vital shift: African solutions for African challenges. This theme is particularly relevant as it emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration. Postgraduate students and researchers are uniquely positioned to collaborate, combining insights from the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and humanities to produce holistic and transformative solutions.
Finally, the theme aligns with global development agendas, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As African nations work to achieve these targets, postgraduate research can directly contribute to areas such as quality education (SDG 4), good health and well-being (SDG 3), and climate action (SDG 13). The resilience framework encapsulated in this conference theme acknowledges the role of higher education institutions in contributing to these global objectives through research and innovation.
Sub-themes
- Educational studies
- Business and Economics
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Social Sciences, Humanities, and Law
- Health and Medical Sciences
- Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture
FORMAT OF THE CONFERENCE
The format is expected to be a hybrid, both virtual and in-person, with an emphasis on in-person participation. Participants are expected across Africa.
Conference Language: English
Registration
Submit Abstract
For more information contact
graduatestudies@ucc.edu.gh
0540876695