A three (3) day research workshop organised by the Association fell on 3rd to 5th February 2020. The workshop was organised with the intention of equipping students on Tools in Data Analysis and Interpretation and avoiding Plagiarism.

The workshop started with College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences with a presentation by Dr. Josiah Tachie-Menson. He presented on the use of Excel and G-Stat for data analysis.

Day two of the workshop was instituted for College of Humanities and Legal studies. The resource person for the day was Dr. Godfred William Cantah who presented on the use of Stata for data analysis.

The workshop ended on day three with presentations by Dr. Lebbaeus Asamani for College of Education studies and Mr. George Adjei for College of Health and Allied Sciences.

Mr. Isaac Nketsiah from DRIC, UCC  was present for all the three days of the workshop to take students through the best practices in avoiding plagiarism in their research work.

The Dean of School of Graduate Studies, UCC, Prof. Ernest L. Okorley graced the workshop and encouraged students to work hard in order to finish their thesis on time. The students learnt a lot and were grateful for such an educative seminar.

Dr. Godfred William-Cantah presenting on the use of Stata Analysis Tool

Dr. Lebbaeus Asamani presenting to students under School of Education Studies on the use of SPSS

Prof. Ernest L. Okorley, Dean of School of Graduate Studies, UCC, gracing the program

A shot of a one-on-one session between Mr. Gorge Adjei, the resource person, and a student

Some students interacting and learning from one another

Shot of some students attentively listening to the ongoing presentation

Mr. Isaac Nketsiah presenting on how to check plagiarism in students research work

The Chairman for Research Committee of GRASAG and the MC for the workshop doing his thing.

 

There is always time for a pose and a nice shot

There is always time for a pose and a nice shot

SPSS Installation time

 

 

On the 6th of December 2019, the Association with its able members went on a walk for members de-stress, exercise and socialise amid the semester’s examinations. The Health Walk was accompanied by brass band music, which made the students dance to melodious tunes as they exercise. At the end of the walk which started from the Sam Jonah Library (Science) to the University’s Sports Complex (Old Site), the students were taken through some aerobics and engaged in some indoor games including ‘Oware’, Ludo, Draft, and Cards.

Members dancing to the melodious tunes from the band and ‘banging’

Still on the walk………

Members taking through some aerobics

‘Oware’ being played by some students during the indoor games session

Still on the indoor games session – that was the winner of the the Ludo game for the day

Adelaide Osei-Tutu and her champions on the Card Game.

Some time with the camera man…. ONE BIG FAMILY

The First Senate Meeting of the 2019/2020 academic year for regular students came off on the 3rd of October,  2019 at the Sasakawa Conference Room. Some of the deliberations that took place at the meeting include deliberations on the budget for the academic year, deliberations on the Week Celebration of the Association, deliberations on research seminars and the institution of the Graduate Research Commons.

The Senate of GRASAG serves as the Legislative Arm of the Association where deliberations take place to carefully consider which programmes and activities are academically appropriate to be organised for members of the Association. It is made up of a representative each of all the various programs in the Graduate School. For an academic semester, Senate Meeting is organised twice to guide the Executive Council in their works.

The first Senate meeting ended successfully with great suggestions and guidance from the various senators and was chaired by the Speaker of Senate Hon. Sampson Gakpoh (Mphil Educational Psychology).

The Senate Leadership and Her Ladyship, Justice Ruth Abaduwaa Quansah in a shot.

Various representatives of GRASAG to the University’s Boards being Sworn in by Her Ladyship.

The Right Bench Leaders of Senate in a shot

The Executive Council of the Association in a shot.

The vetting and audit committee members being sworn in at the meeting.

The former President of the Association, Mr George Sarfo in attendance.

Tete-a-tete between the Honorable Speaker, Mr. Sampson Gakpoh and the Senate Secretary, Ms. Jennifer Cobbinah.

GRASAG UCC won the gold medal in Volleyball (men) and Badminton (men) at the 2019/2020 Inter Hall Sports Competition.
The Inter Hall Sports Competition is an annually organized event for students to distress and socialize. Due to its competitive nature the games attracted several students and lecturers to the Sports Complex (UCC) to witness and experience the fun. GRASAG UCC representing Valco Trust Graduate Hall has always been great contenders in the Games. After Several Challenging Games GRASAG UCC won Gold Medal in Volley (Men), beating Atlantic Hall Two Straight in the last game and Gold in Badminton (Men). GRASAG UCC in addition won 3 other Silver Medals in Volleyball (women), Netball (women) and Badminton (women).

 

The GRASAG Volley Ball Team (Women) in action.

GRASAG football team pre-photo before their match.

Elizabeth Alpha (Second year Graduate Student), in action for GRASAG.

GAME ON!!!!!!!!!!

The Executive Council on 25th September 2019 visited the Centre for International Education (CIE) of University of Cape Coast. CIE is a facet of University of Cape Coast that is in charge of managing international education activities and the international relations the university has with other Universities outside Ghana.
The visit was aimed at fostering a stronger relationship between the Center (CIE) and the Association.

The Dean of the Centre Prof. Kweku Boakye expressed delight to the courtesy call as it fell in line with his vision for CIE. He mentioned his intentions of looking forward to work hand in hand with leadership of GRASAG-UCC and Graduate School to enhance the relationship between the two bodies.

The Dean also added that the strengthening of the relationship will help Graduate students utilize scholarship opportunities from the Centre. He again hinted on a massive international studies fair in February next year, 2019.

A photo of the Executive Council of GRASAG-UCC and the Dean, Prof. Kweku Boakye and Registrar, Mrs. Juliana Danquah of Centre for International Education, UCC.

An annual Orientation program was organized for first year regular students for 2019/2020 academic year from 26^th to 28^th August 2019. The Orientation session for Post Graduate students therefore was on the 26^th of August 2019 at LT 21 of the Science Block in U.C.C. In attendance to the program was Prof. Ernest L. Okorley (Dean, School of Graduate Studies), Prof. Emmanuel Gyimah (Head of Education Department, CoDE UCC), GRASAG-UCC Executive Council among other dignitaries.

Notable among the topics presented on at the program were ethical issues in research, research commons that is yet to be established for Graduate Students’ usage and the appropriate procedure for writing a good research proposal.

Prof. Ernest L. Okorley, (Dean, School of Graduate Studies) addressing the students.

Prof. Emmanuel Gyimah, (Head of Education Department, CoDE – U.C.C) present at the program.

The President of GRASAG – UCC, Mr. Albert Awortwi Sagoe addressing the students.

Students listening attentively at the Orientation Program.

A student making an input at the Orientation Program.

Massive representation of the students body at the Orientation Program.

 

 

After the semester’s toil and hectic studies an annual dinner is organized for final year sandwich students to distress and quench their tiredness and stress accumulated in the lecture hall. It is also a platform for students to socialize. This year’s dinner was lit by Live Band Music from the Fire Service Band, Cape Coast. The ceremony was also used to award Sandwich Senators for their meritorious service during the semester. The students danced their hearts out to the beautiful tunes to the music, had enough assorted drinks and ate to fill their tommys.

Present at the dinner were several dignitaries of the University includeing the Pro Vice Chancellor of the UNIVERSITY of Cape Coast Professor Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, who doubled as the Chairperson for the event, Professor Ernest Okorley. Laryeh, (Dean, School of Graduate Studies, UCC), Dr. Mike Boakye Yiadom (Hall Master, SRC Hall) among others.

The Chairperson Prof Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh speaking at the dinner.

Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of Graduate Studies showing some dance moves

Mr Senam McBrian, Secretary for Sandwich Senate receiving his Certificate of Honour

Beautiful smiles from beautiful women of the great Association

The Dean of Graduate Studies, Prof. Ernest Laryea Okorley

A faction of the students showing some dance moves

The President, Mr Albert Awortwi Sagoe and Vice President, Miss Hilda B. Bannor repping at the Dinner

 The Fire Service Band firing the house with beautiful music

Food is READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GRASAG-UCC as part of it routine mandate of making campus friendly and less stressful for fresh students embarked on a Socialization our for its fresh Sandwich. The tour which among other things was to afford members interact, network, and build relationships with their colleagues.

The students visited the celebrated world slave castle at Elmina, the  Kakum National Park and Hans Cottage Botel.

In each of these tourists sites, the students did not only have fun, but had a lot to learn from.

ELMINA CASTLE
The first point of call was the the Elmina Castle. At the Castle, it was visibly clear that most of the students were excited since that was the first time some of them were having a feel  of the magnificent historical edifice. The tour guide filled them in with all the information they needed to know about the castle importantly, regarding the castle’s role during the slave trade period. The students also asked questions to tame their curiosity. The tour to the castle was also gave the students to appreciate the cultural heritage of the people of Elmina as it coincided with the grand durbar of the Bakatue Festival.

A cross section of the students being taking through the Castle by a tour guide.

The happy faces of the students at Elmina Castle

A faction of the students having fun with ‘morale/jama’ at the entrance of the Castle

KAKUM NATIONAL PARK

The next point of visit was Kakum National Park. This tourist site is one of the most popular rain forests in the country. The forest reserve has 7  level Canopy Walkway. The Adventure of walking on the Kakum Canopy was scary but fun.

Here, one of the student defies the fear and poses for the camera in style as she prepares to complete all 7 walkways.

Students entering the Kakum rain forest

Tired but happy of a student on the Canopy walk way

HANS COTTAGE BOTEL

The final Site, Hans Cottage Botel had a natural lake that had 12 live Crocodiles. Some members had a boat ride on the lake and got educated on some interesting birds that breed on an Island on the lake.

Some students cruising on the Crocodile Pond at Hans Cottage Botel

 

The Executive Council enjoying some photo shoots at Hans Cottage Botel

‘The Heart of Graduate Education is Research’. Due to this GRASAG-UCC organized an E-Resource Learning Seminar for all Sandwich students to build students knowledge in research and their writing skills in thesis, project works and  dissertations. Additionally, the students were taking through the usage of softwares like Mendeley and a new Plagiarism Software introduced by the University, Turn-it-in.

This seminar took three weekends, 15th, 22nd and 29th of June 2019,  to cover all the students in the Graduate School – it begun at 8:00am and ended at 5:00am each day. The students were enthused and excited with the educative seminar organized for them.

A session of the E-Resource Seminar ongoing.

Students listening attentively to the tutor at the ICT Centre, Sam Jonah Library, University of Cape Coast.

On the 13th of June 2019, the University organized an annual Orientation Program for the fresh students for the sandwich academic semester. About one thousand three hundred (1300) students were admitted in to the School of Graduate Studies for the academic semester. In attendance of the program was the University’s Registrar, Mr. kofi Nyan, Professor Eugene Darteh (Dean of Students, UCC), Mr Eugene K. Hesse (Assistant Registrar, School of Graduate Studies), GRASAG-UCC Executive Council among other dignitaries.

Mr. Jeff Onyame, Director of Academic Affairs, in his address congratulated the students and urged them to take the Student’s Handbook as their companion and consult it often for information on their conduct and responsibilities. He also encouraged the students to uphold academic excellence and let  the ‘Truth be their Guide’ for that was the basis on which the University was established.

The President of GRASAG-UCC, Mr. Albert Awortwi Sagoe then addressed the students on the roles, culture and responsibilities of the Association (GRASAG UCC). He explained that the Association was there to facilitate their stay on campus and organized educative programs which would enhance the students’ knowledge in research. He also outlined the educative and fun programs the association had in stock for them in the academic semester. The students were also given the mandate to bring up their views, suggestions and questions to bare for dialogue. The Orientation Program ended with much delight in the students’ eyes. They were greatly enthused for the semester.

Dean od Students UCC, Professor Eugene Darteh speaking at the program.

Mr. Jeff Onyame, Director of Academic Affairs UCC, addressing the students at the program.

Students listening attentively to the speakers at the program.

 The President of GRASAG-UCC, Mr. Albert Awortwi Sagoe speaking at the program.