The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has for the third consecutive time emerged as the topmost-ranked university in Ghana and in West Africa.
This is according to the 20th edition of the World University Rankings (WUR) released by the Times Higher Education (THE).
The Management of the University considers this feat as striking in the history of Ghana’s universities.
“This feat is still unprecedented in the history of any University in Ghana,” said the Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
With this exceptional performance, UCC still remains the only University in Ghana which has achieved this position in West Africa and Africa,” he added.
Meanwhile, the University emerged as the 7th in Africa making it the only University in Ghana and West Africa that is in the top 10 ranked Universities in Africa.
Though the University has dropped three times when it comes to its ranking in Africa, the Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at UCC, Professor David Teye Doku believes the University has improved considering the new methodology THE introduced.
Announcing the new rankings at a press conference held at UCC on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong explained that the new methodology 3.0 made the ranking metrics more balanced and stringent.
And this is believed to have displaced some of UCC’s close competitors.
The methodology covered five areas including teaching reputation (the learning environment), Research environment, Research quality, International outlook and Industry of knowledge transfer.
Notwithstanding, in the area of research, UCC maintained its position as one of the leading research-intensive universities globally.
The leadership of the university believes the achievement demonstrates the reputation of the scholarly research outputs of UCC, particularly over the past decade.
They also believe this feat demonstrates UCC’s contribution to higher education and the impact of its scholarly output in Ghana, Africa and globally.
“This highlights the hard work and commitment of our faculty towards engaging in impactful research,” Prof Boampong intimated in his address to the media.
He continued, “To maintain this sterling achievement, the University would continue to forge strategic partnerships in the areas of its core mandate to advance the course of its mission and vision.”
The annual Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) is the most prestigious global university ranking among all others. It is the only global university rankings league table to judge research-intensive universities based on their five core missions.
The 2024 WUR had data submissions from 2,673 institutions across 108 countries, out of which 1,904 universities qualified to be ranked.
In the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the University of Cape Coast was the topmost-ranked University in Ghana and West Africa and was among the top 5 Universities in Africa. The University was also Number 24 globally for Research Influence.
Read also: The Director-General of IEPA Recognized for His Service to Transforming Education in Ghana.
Source: Rosemond Asmah /ATLFMNEWS
