2.5.2 Department of Classics and Philosophy
Originally known as the Latin Section of the Department of English, when the University was established in 1962, the Department of Classics assumed an autonomous status in 1963. In 1999 the four-year degree programme in Philosophy was added to its existing programme in Classics. The Department then assumed its current designation as the Department of Classics and Philosophy. The Department continues to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Classical Civilization and Philosophy leading to the offer of B.A and MA/M.Phil degrees respectively. The Department has an internationally recognized Journal in Journal of Philosophy and Culture, which is hosted by AJOL. It is the vision of the Department to establish PhD programmes in Classics and Philosophy in the next three years. The academic staff of the Department vigorously pursue their teaching and research activities.
Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Strengths
- Dedicated and youthful staff strength
- Strong and vibrant international linkages
- Good interpersonal relationship among staff
- Good track record of supervision and completion rate of graduate students
- Reasonable quantity of teaching and learning equipment
- Good and proactive research capabilities and skills
Required Strengths
- Adequate infrastructure
- Adequate staff development programmes
- Strong internet connectivity
- Availability of ICT -based teaching resources
- Skills in ICT teaching resource
- Gender balanced Faculty
Key Opportunities
1.Emerging linkages with industry and alumni
2.Increasing national and global interest in African Philosophy
3.Increasing demand for Logic and Critical Thinking and Ethics based courses
4.Developing oil and gas industry
5.Establishment of Law Faculty at UCC
6.Extensive availability of international collaborators
Threats
1.Virtual anonymity of Department’s existence at pre-tertiary levels
2. Low intake of students into the Arts
3.Unreliable power supply
4.Dwindling budget for tertiary institutions
5.Scarcity of PhD opportunities and sponsorship for staff
6.Weak conflict management outlets in the University
Key Strategies
Key Thrust 1: Create an Environment that Seeks to Improve Student Life, Foster Focused Learning and Graduate Students with Strong Ethics and Commitment to Society
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Establish a rapid response system to address student grievances
HOD
Academic Advisors and student leadership
1.Form consultative committee and organise consultative meeting at least once a semester
2.Sensitise students on the effective use of academic counselling system
1.Consultative committee formed by the end of 2012/2013 academic year
2.Organise a sensitisation forum for students once a semester
-
Support the Centre for International Education (CIE) to attract foreign students and expand exchange programmes and activities
HOD
CIE
1.Develop a brochure of programmes
2.Negotiate with the University/ICT to get a personnel responsible for ICT-related issues
3.Update of departmental information on the University website
1.Developed a brochure by the end of 2013/2014 academic year
2.ICT personnel appointed by December 2014
3.Develop a weekly template for updating departmental information on University website
-
Strengthen Students Fieldwork and Educational trips
HOD
Fieldwork and Educational trips co-ordinator
1. Appoint a fieldwork co-ordinator
2.Develop a fieldwork schedule
3. Integrate field work and educational trips attendance into assessment
1.Field work co-ordinator appointed by the end of September, 2013
2.Organise periodic meetings for students and lecturers
3.Attendance and participation during fieldwork will contribute towards overall assessment
-
Establish student association to enhance student welfare matters
HOD
Academic advisers,
Course representatives
Formation of Classics and Philosophy Students Association
Appointment of Patron for student association
Departmental students association formed by end of 2013-2014 Academic year
Patron appointed by end of 2013-2014 Academic year
Key Thrust 2: Create a Conducive Working Environment which recognises Equal Opportunities for Faculties, Staff and Students
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Establish a rapid response system to address staff grievances
HOD
Committee for staff welfare issues
1.Formation of committee for staff welfare issues
2. Organise regular meetings between teaching and non-teaching staff.
1.Staff welfare committee formed by end of December 2013
2.Organise at least one meeting every semester between teaching and non-teaching staff
-
Promote the image of the University as an equal opportunity institution
HOD
Departmental consultative committee
1.Increase the employment ratio of female faculty
2.Hold discussions with VC on the process of employing female faculty, acceleration of PhD for female students and funding of female PhD student
1. Employ female lecturer(s) by the end of 2014/2015 academic year.
2.Hold discussions with the VC on the process of employing female faculty, acceleration of PhD for female student and funding of female PhD students by September, 2013
Key Thrust 3: Recruit, Select, Develop and Retain High Calibre and Motivated Teaching and Administrative Staff
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Undertake staff Audit
HOD/Dean
Faculty Officer
1.Undertake annual Departmental staff audit
2.Determine additional staff requirement
3.Scout, advertise and recruit potential staff
4.Develop staff profile
1.Annual Departmental staff audit in February (2013-2017)
2.Determined additional staff requirement by April (2014-2017)
3.Advertise and recruit staff
4.Staff profile (qualification and research interest) developed and hosted on the University’s website by October, 2013
-
Establishment of academic chairs
HOD/Dean
Senior colleagues
1. Develop guidelines for academic chairs
2.Identify sponsoring organisations
1. Identified areas for academic chairs by January 2014
2. Identified sponsors by January 2015
-
Institutionalise staff training
HOD
T & D
1.Strengthen collaboration with existing institutions
2.Identify new institutions for staff exchange
3.Identify sources of funds for staff PhD programmes
1.At least one person participating in an external training programme each year
2.New institutions identified by December 2014
3.At least one PhD student sponsored by 2017
5
Institute staff orientation for newly recruited staff
HOD/ Dean
DAPQA and
T & D
1.Organise staff orientation for newly recruited staff
2.Strengthen mentoring system
1.At least one staff orientation for newly recruited staff organised each year
2.Semesterly mentoring reporting systems created
6
Develop a succession plan for staff and courses
HOD
Senior colleagues
1.Identify succession gaps
2.Sensitise staff on succession plan
1.Succession plan developed by February, 2014
2.Staff sensitised on the succession plan by April, 2014
Key Thrust 4: Create a Learning Organisation Culture that Enhances Teamwork, Efficiency, Discipline and Commitment
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Create mechanisms for continuously projecting the vision of the Department and that of the University
HOD
All other staff members/
DAQPA/
Alumni Relations Office
1. Develop a Departmental brochure
2.Publicise Departmental brochures, seminars and activities
3. Undertake tracer studies
4. Organise events for alumni
1.Departmental brochure developed by December 2013
2.Host Departmental brochures, seminars and activities on the University’s website by December 2014
3.Tracer studies undertaken by December 2013
4.At least one event for alumni organised each year
-
Promote creativity, innovation and culture of continuous learning at the individual and group level
HOD
All other lecturers and student leadership
1.Introduce student exchange programme
2.Strengthen Departmental research projects and seminars
3.Institutionalise feedback from conferences and seminars
4.Identify and invite external speakers for Departmental seminars
1.Identified collaborating institutions by December 2013
2. Database of funding organisations created by February, 2014 and research proposals for funding submitted each year
3. Report submitted conditioned on conference attendance.
4.Two external speakers invited for Departmental seminars each year
Key Thrust 5: Promote active and reflective teaching and learning, Research, and Outreach that Strongly Positions University of Cape Coast as a Centre of Excellence
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Create a conducive environment for teaching and learning
HOD/Dean
All lecturers/
Faculty Officer/
Librarian
1. Integrate Departmental library with main library
2. Improve library acquisitions by subscribing to journals and databases
3. Strengthen ICT support and capacity for the Department
4.Develop web based teaching practices
1. Discussions held with librarian by September 2013
2. Equipment necessary for the links acquired by August, 2014. Textbooks catalogued by December 2014
3.ICT equipment acquired by the Department by December, 2014
4.Seminars held on web-based teaching practices by March 2016
-
Promote student-centred teaching with practical exposure
HOD
All lecturers
1.Organise field trips
2.Institute and encourage lectures by practitioners
3.Introduce internship programmes for students
4.Develop student-community engagement programmes
5. Introduce problem-based teaching & learning
1. At least one field trip organised each semester
2.One practitioner invited each year for a lecture
3.Identify internship programme opportunities by 2015
4. Identify student-community engagement programmes by 2015
5.All staff trained on problem-based teaching by July 2016
-
Engage in outreach activities around the University and beyond
HOD
All other lecturers
1.Regular dissemination of research output and fieldwork reports
2. Identify additional sites for educational trips
1. Research output and fieldwork reports published annually.
2.Additional sites identified and contacted by July, 2014
-
Design, adopt and implement a research agenda
HOD
All lecturers
Form Research groups
At least two research groups functional by mid-2014
Key Thrust 6: Develop New Programmes, Periodically Revise Existing Ones, and Vigorously Pursue Sandwich Education
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Establish PhD programmes in Classics and Philosophy
HOD/ Dean
Academic Board
Dean
Dean, SGSR
Develop PhD programmes in Classics and Philosophy
Programmes developed by 2015/2016
2.
Regularly review and broaden the scope of existing academic programmes
HOD
Academic Board
Academic programmes regularly reviewed
Consultative committee to review existing programmes functioning by 2014
3.
Develop innovative market driven sandwich programmes
HOD
Academic Board
Demand-driven sandwich programmes introduced by Department
Department develops at least two new programmes by 2015/2016 Academic year
4.
Strengthen quality assurance monitoring of existing programmes
HOD
Departmental Board
Programme Co-ordinators
Functional co-ordinators in place
Co-ordinators appointed by December 2013
5.
Identify and address issues affecting completion rate of graduate students
HOD
Departmental Board
Programme Co-ordinators
Graduate students Advisers
All Graduate students
1.Graduate completion tracking system produced
2.Number of students graduating on schedule increased
3.Incentives for thesis supervision / assessment
1.Tracking system operational by end of 2013
2.80% of students completing within the required period (2013-2017)
3.Incentive system in place (2013-2017)
4.Supervisors and students meet regularly (2013-2017)
Key Thrust 7: Develop and Strengthen Integrated ICT infrastructure and Facilities that Robustly Supports Teaching and Learning, Outreach, Administration and Support Services
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Integrating ICT into teaching and learning
HOD
All other lecturers
1. Organise workshops for Lecturers on designing e-learning courses
2.Acquire relevant equipment and accessories
3.Acquire ICT tools to support teaching and learning
1.E-learning materials developed by lecturers by January 2016
2. Relevant equipment and accessories acquired by November 2015
3.ICT tools for teaching and learning acquired by November 2015
-
Project the image and achievements of the Department in the areas of teaching, research and outreach through effective management of the Department’s web page
HOD
All other Lecturers
Director, ICT
Appoint ICT co-ordinator in the Department
Co-ordinator appointed by July 2014
Key Thrust 8: Improve upon Physical Infrastructure and Support Service that Enhance Teaching and Learning, Research and Outreach
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Promote maintenance and cost saving culture in the use of existing physical facilities and utilities
HOD
Departmental Board
1.Periodic education among members
2.Regularly inform DPDEM of problems
- At least every departmental board meeting (2013-2017)
-
Ensure a healthy and attractive physical environment and enforce good environmental protection practices
HOD
Departmental Board
1.Periodic education among members
2.Regularly inform DPDEM of problems
- At least every departmental board meeting (2013-2017)
Key Thrust 9: Develop Linkages with Local and Foreign Institutions, Alumni and Partnership
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Establish collaboration with industry, professional bodies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and research institutions
HOD
Dean
1. Identify and hold discussions with industry, professional bodies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and research institutions
2. Strengthen collaboration with sister departments
1. Discussions held with industry, professional bodies, Ministries, Departments, Agencies and research institutions by June 2014
2. Sister departments invited to participate in seminars each semester
-
Establish new linkages with foreign institutions.
HOD
CIE
Identify and hold discussions with foreign institutions
Discussions held with foreign institutions by December 2014
-
Conduct Tracer studies to identify alumni
HOD
Alumni Relations office and DAPQA
Build database, generate alumni directory
Alumni database built by December, 2014
-
Formation of Classics and Philosophy Students Association
HOD
Academic advisors,
Student leadership
1. Organise field trips for students
2.Organise seminars for job search
1.At least one field trip organised in a year
2.At least one seminar on the job market organised each year
Key Thrust 10: Improve upon Management Capacity & Institutional Governance Systems
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Build management capacity for HOD, Examination Officer and Registration Officer
T & D/ Dean
Vice Dean
Faculty Officer
Organise management capacity building training programmes
Workshop organised for HOD, Exams Officer and Registration Officer on periodic basis
-
Build management capacity of all support staff
HOD
T & D and Faculty Officer
Organise/sponsor training programmes for support staff
Training programmes organised for all support staff by 2016
Key Thrust 11: Vigorously work to improve revenue generation and enforce fiscal discipline
No.
Key Action
Primary
Responsibility
Secondary
Implementers
Indicators
Target/Time Frame
-
Advertise programmes abroad to attract foreign students
HOD
CIE
Advertise through University website
At least five foreign students admitted on the undergraduate programme every year
-
Search for discipline specific grants for research
HOD
Dean
Institute a chair in African Philosophy
Chair Instituted by March 2017
-
Organise Annual Congress of alumni and homecoming
HOD
All members of staff/ Students Association
Organise a one day event to host alumni
Alumni congress held each year to raise funds
-
Pursue prospect of sandwich programmes in Ethics, Logic and Critical Thinking
HOD, Dean
Other senior colleagues in Department
Liaise with relevant authorities to create sandwich programmes
Sandwich programmes in place by start of 2015/2016 Academic year
-
Identify sources of excessive expenditure in the Department
HOD
Thorough review of departmental expenditure pattern
Excessive expenditure reduced
