The University of Cape Coast (UCC) TAGDev 2.0 Programme has held a two-day workshop to discuss the development and review of essential educational policies to ensure students' success and improve overall academic outcomes.
The collaborative effort aims to ensure that UCC and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions remain responsive to the evolving needs of students and the broader community. This will be achieved through the adoption of policies on safeguarding, gender inclusivity, experiential education and learning, engagement strategy/farm attachment, and entrepreneurship education.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Registrar, the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, some Deans, Heads of Department, Principals of Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and female staff from selected TAGDev 2.0 programmes.
Opening the workshop, the Registrar of UCC, Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye (Esq.) underscored the importance of policies in shaping the academic environment and guiding resource allocation.
Mr. Abbeyquaye underscored the essential role higher education institutions play as catalysts for transformation and sustainable development.
The Registrar indicated that effective policies and strategic implementation were crucial for driving institutional change, enhancing academic quality, and fostering social responsibility.
UCC Programme Coordinator of TAGDev 2.0, Prof. Festus Annor-Frempong, noted that the goal of the programme was to empower African youth and institutions, enabling them to drive inclusive and climate-resilient changes in agriculture and agrifood systems.
He noted that an evaluation of the University's existing policies revealed a lack of framework in critical areas such as institutional safeguarding and gender inclusivity.
Prof. Annor-Frempong said TAGDev 2.0 programme focused on supporting the development of new policies and the review of existing ones at UCC and TVETs in Ghana.
He noted that the initiative aimed to strengthen the educational framework, ensuring it effectively meets the needs of students and the broader community.
Facilitators and participants at the workshop engaged in a comprehensive analysis of needs assessment and awareness creation. The workshop also focused on the implementation of policies that relate to safeguarding, gender inclusivity, experiential education, community engagement strategies, and entrepreneurship education.
The discussions at the workshop highlighted the need to develop actionable steps for policy adoption by the University, alongside training for faculty to effectively integrate these policies into teaching and learning frameworks and create an enabling environment for students.