Newly appointed dean promises to transform UCC Faculty of Arts

The newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, has promised to leverage the faculty’s resources — academic, financial and human — to help advance the course of the university.

He said the transformative agenda would “internationalise” the faculty.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic last Monday, Prof. Kwarteng, who until his new appointment was the Head of the Department of History, said

“we look forward to exciting times for the faculty and the university”.
He took over from Prof. J.B.A. Afful.

Vision actualisation

Prof. Kwarteng said he would set up a committee to be charged with the responsibility of ensuring the actualisation of that vision.

“As part of the internationalisation drive, every department will be encouraged to organise at least an international conference each year or every two years,” he said.

Prof. Kwarteng said it was also his vision that the young assistant lecturers in the faculty who had no PhD would be encouraged or assisted to enrol either locally or abroad with the universities the faculty would establish linkages with. 

“The third vision is to ensure that the faculty-wide research agenda is vigorously promoted. In pursuit of this, I will identify young talented and research-oriented faculties from the departments and entrust them with this responsibility,” he stated.

Aside from that, Prof. Kwarteng said he would liaise with the estate officer of the university to ensure periodic maintenance of the main Faculty of Arts building which leaked badly during rainfall.

“I will also ensure the setting up of computer clusters in the faculty for both students and lecturers. To realise this vision, the faculty will set aside a percentage of its Academic Facility User Fees for the purchase of the computers and appoint a senior member to take charge of the clusters. 

Projectors for lecturers

“In addition, the faculty will embark on a programme aimed at procuring between 10 and 15 projectors for lecturers in the faculty to promote teaching and learning, since the old and traditional method of teaching and learning has become outmoded,” Prof. Kwarteng said.

He further stated that as a security-conscious person, he would make sure that closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed at all the entrances of the faculty or metal gates fixed at entrances of the faculty to prevent intruders from  entering the premises at night, weekends and during holidays. 

He expressed the hope that with the cooperation of the management and other players of the university, his vision would be achieved. 

Profile

Prof. Kwarteng holds a PhD in African Studies from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, and an MPhil and BA in History from UCC.

He is the Chairman, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), and member of the National Teaching Council (NTC), representing the National Council for Tertiary Education.