UCC adopts policy to safeguard postgraduate courses

The Academic Board of the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Cape (UCC) has approved a plagiarism policy to safeguard the quality of its postgraduate education. 

The policy will be implemented from the 2019/2020 academic year.

In that regard, the university has purchased a software that will help reduce the level of plagiarism to guarantee the originality of research works.

The Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, who announced this in Cape Coast last Friday, said: "In our quest to become a powerhouse in the arena of postgraduate education, the School of Graduate Studies commissioned a committee to draft a plagiarism policy for the university. I am happy to

inform you that the policy has been accepted and approved for implementation next academic year."

He was addressing the 17th Session of the 51st Congregation of the School of Graduate Studies of the UCC, during which 1,183 students graduated.
He said some members of staff and postgraduate students had begun receiving training in the use of the software.

Research grants

Prof. Ampiah said a research grant, the Samuel and Emmanuel Brew-Butler GRASAG-UCC Fund was established in the university in response to the increasing demand for support by students for the production of high quality graduate research works and the early completion of graduate degree programmes.

He said the university intended to increase its capacity to expand graduate education, saying: “The current enrolment of graduate students is 7,381 in the various postgraduate disciplines."

According to him, the university would continue to bridge the gender gap by rolling out more flexible career-oriented programmes for all.
On infrastructure, Prof. Ampiah said: “As management of the university, we have not relented in our effort to improve upon teaching and learning facilities on campus."

Prof. Ampiah announced that college graduate programme coordinators had been appointed by schools and faculties to facilitate postgraduate programmes, adding that seminars on e-learning for graduate students were also mounted consistently for them.

"At least once in each academic year, special seminars aimed at improving graduate studies and ensuring the completion of programmes on schedule are organised for graduate students,” he said.

Commendation

The Chancellor of the UCC, Dr (Sir) Sam Esson Jonah, commended the School of Graduate Studies for providing critical, strategic leadership and administrative structures in the facility to ensure academic excellence.

He said the school would continue to support graduate students to undertake scholarly studies to prepare them for professional work.

The chancellor said the UCC had empowered the graduates with generic and discipline-specific research knowledge and skills and competencies that would enable them to excel in their respective fields of endeavours.

Valedictory

In a valedictory speech, Dr Hannah Benyaba Edjah commended her mates for their hard work and commitment that had brought them that far, adding: "What does not kill you can only make you stronger."