Two officials from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana have called on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
The two officials are the President of AIMS, Dr. Prince Koree Osei, and the Scientific Administration Manager, Ms. Rhoda Mahamah.
Purpose
Explaining the purpose of the visit, the Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, UCC, Prof. Emmanuel K. Essel, who accompanied the two officials noted that AIMS had been in a relationship with UCC since its establishment in Ghana. He indicated that the visit was to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar on their appointment and also deepen the collaboration between the two institutions.
Collaboration
On his part, the President of AIMS-Ghana, Dr. Osei said the Institute had worked with UCC, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast to train students in Mathematics at the postgraduate level. “AIMS is concerned about Mathematics in Africa so we select talented students and they are trained by topnotch lecturers from Universities across the world” he explained. Dr. Osei further indicated that, AIMS Ghana provided an innovative and relevant curriculum for students in a 24-hour learning environment.
AIMS Africa
Giving the background of the Institute, Dr. Osei noted that AIMS was Africa’s first and largest network of centres of excellence for innovative postgraduate training in mathematical sciences. According to him the focus of the Institute was to shape the continent’s future through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, public engagement and research. He stated that there were five centres of excellence in five African countries namely; South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon and Rwanda. He added that AIMS was working to operate 15 centres of excellence across Africa by 2023.
The President of AIMS said the Institute with the support of the Ministry of Education was in the process of introducing Master of Science in Teacher Education to beef up the training of teachers for the senior high schools and teacher training colleges. He said the programme would focus more on content adding “We have realised that content is a major problem for most Mathematics teachers in Ghana. We want them to visualize and apply mathematical concepts in solving problems”.
STEM Education
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Boampong, stated that Mathematics permeated all aspect of our life and therefore, commended AIMS Ghana for promoting Mathematics not only in Ghana but Africa in general. He noted that as part of his vision for the University, a programme in STEM Education would be introduced at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to train more scientists. He indicated that the University’s programmes would be reviewed in order to avoid duplication. He said in order to inculcate honesty and moral values in students, ethics would be introduced ethics as a vital component of all programmes being ran in the University.
UCC-AIMS Partnership
Prof. Boampong indicated the University’s readiness to partner AIMS Ghana to produce more scientists for the country and the continent. “We want to collaborate with you to introduce innovative programmes that will produce the best scientists who will be problem solvers. Our doors are open for joint research and projects”. He said UCC would continue to support AIMS to realise its vision of promoting Mathematics in the continent.
Present at the meeting were the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame; Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Sarah Darkwah; Head of Department of Mathematics, UCC, Prof. Ernest Yankson; Ag. Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum and Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mrs. Elizabeth Yankah