AUCC’s Priscilla wins Miss Tourism title

A Level 300 student of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) Ms. Priscilla Asare, has been crowned Miss Club Miss Tourism 2011.

Priscilla also grabbed the Miss Talent and Miss Personality titles at the same event.

In a fierce competition between the ten contestants representing the ten regions of Ghana, contestants were required to show-case the traditions, history and tourism potentials of their respective regions.

As Miss Tourism, she will be Tourism Ambassador for Ghana for the next one year and has an exciting travel itinerary that will enable her to travel extensively within and outside Ghana to promote Ghana’s tourism potentials.

In a post-event interview, Priscilla, who represented the eastern region of Ghana, said her plan was to use the platform given to her to promote Ghana’s tourism sites to the world by utilizing the universal concepts of friendship and unity. “My philosophy in life is that everyone, particularly women, should learn to be confident at all times and in all situations” an excited Priscilla stated.

Highly confident and affable Priscilla who has set the sky as her limit when it comes to unleashing her potentials, is also the current Women's Commissioner for the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS). She is without doubt a go - getter who has more up in her sleeves in terms of providing leadership inspiration to women in Ghana and Africa.

Ms. Akua Sena Dansua, Ghana's Minister of Tourism and H.E. Mrs. Pavelyn Musah, the Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Ghana, were some of the dignitaries who graced the event held on September 17, 2011 at the National Theatre in Accra.

AUCC considers the winning of the Miss Tourism title by Priscilla as a demonstration of the University’s commitment towards providing its students with the best environment for them to ‘discover themselves.‘

Barbara Gyamfi
AUCC Communication Department
bgyamfi@aucc.edu.gh

AUCC students to study in Ohio University

28th September 2011-As part of efforts to promote cross- cultural learning and understanding among Africans and the rest of the world, selected students and a faculty member of the African University College of Communications(AUCC) have received various scholarships to study at Ohio University (OU) and Clark Atlanta University (CAU) in the United States of America.

Mr. Ben Adu-Kumi and Ms. Rhoda Doku- Two (2) students of the 2011 graduating class of AUCC- are the recipients of two-year scholarships to study for a Masters degree in African Studies atOSU with the possible extension of the scholarship to cover their studies to the doctorate level. A faculty member, Mr. Ato Amoaning –Annan who is the Dean, Journalism Studies, of AUCC has also been nominated to participate in a faculty enrichment programme at the same university. Meanwhile, AUCC will be expecting eighteen (18) OSU undergraduatesin Ghana in July 2012 on a Summer Study Abroad programme which is aimed at helping them to discover themselves whilst experiencing the unique Ghanaian culture within anacademic / work environment.

Additionally, AUCC and OU are also collaborating to offer a Masters programme in Health Communication in January 2012.

The president of AUCC (Hon. Kojo Yankah) and that of OU (Dr. Roderick McDavis) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier in August 2011 to seal the pre-existing cordial relationship between the two universities.Remarking on this mutually beneficial exchange programme, AUCC president, Mr. Yankah stated “the dynamism of our vision does not respond to the narrow confines of mediocrity so we have constantly sought to broaden our horizons and proudly take our staff and students along.”

President McDavis echoed Hon.Yankah’s words by stating that, “developing and fostering strong partnerships with universities around the globe is an important aspect of CAU’s commitment to diversity and an important way that we enrich the student experience at Ohio University.”

In a related development, three (3) AUCC studentsare to benefit from three separate undergraduate scholarships to study at CAU in January 2012 while four (4)students from CAU will also be studying at AUCC around the same period.

AUCC is a UNESCO rated centre of excellence in media education in Africa- and seeks to become Africa’ best centre for journalism, communication, information management and business management studies by providing opportunities for advanced learning and professional application for the rapid growth and development of the continent of Africa.

The University College is the only one in Africa with Journalism and Communication as its flagship programme.

Contact
Barbara Gyamfi
Director of Communications
bgyamfi@aucc.edu.gh

SEMINAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM

Twitter and Facebook have changed the way we communicate! Social media can now be used to share ideas on international issues and create global dialogue.

The AUCC Centre for Information Communication Technology, the Journalists for Human Rights (jhr) and the Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS) are therefore pleased to announce a unique opportunity for students, lecturers, teachers, workers and the general public to come and explore the capacity of social media to create change and be used to champion human rights activism in Ghana.

The half day seminar will focus on the decline and transformation of traditional media into it's current state and will explore the rapid growth of social media and their critical role in placing Human Rights campaign and education on the international platform and will take place on Thursday, 13th October 2011 at 9.00 am at the AUCC Campus located on NO.2 Jones Nelson Link, Opposite Avenida Hotel, Kojo Thompson Road, Adabraka, Accra.

Space is limited, so register now by calling 054-8686-990/0203336896

Be reminded that registration and attendance is absolutely free

AUCC ORGANISES NEW MEDIA SEMINAR FOR TV AFRICA

A FOLLOW-UP TO THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE OHIO UNIVERSITY AND AUCC

Following the MOU between the Ohio University and the African University College of Communications, Professor Yusuf Kalyango, an associate Professor from the Scripps College of Communications in Ohio University visited Ghana from the 28th of August to 5th of September 2011. His visit among other things included the firming of some of the discussions earlier between the African University College of Communications and the Scripps College of Communications. He was also on an exploration mission for opportunities and possibilities in some media houses and some strategic media relation organizations in Ghana for internship arrangement for students from the Scripps College of Communications from the Ohio University scheduled to begin in Summer of next year.

 This arrangement to the African University College of Communications is of supreme importance as the local organizing institution with the vision of becoming Africa’s best centre for media studies and communication research and also in providing opportunities for advanced intellectual and practical professional learning for the rapid growth and development of the African continent.

 For information on the collaboration between the Scripps College of Communications of the Ohio University and the African University College of Communications, click the link to watch the interview with Prof. Yusuf Kalyango

Interview with Dr. Joseph Silver of CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

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 A two -member delegation led by the Vice President (Academic) of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) in Atlanta, Georgia in U.S.A., Dr. Joseph H. Silver, have visited the African University College of Communications (AUCC) to discuss ways of strengthening the partnership between the two universities.  Dr. Silver was accompanied by Dr. Paul Brown, Director of International Programmes (CAU).

Highlights of their visit which commenced on 27^th March and ended on 29^th March 2011, included discussions with the Acting Dean of the AUCC School of Business, Mr. Bernard Otabil, on the upcoming Clark Atlanta MBA programme to be established at  AUCC by January 2012. The Executive Vice President (Academic) of AUCC, Prof.  Emmanuel Ofori-Akyea, stated at the meeting that the unique thing about the Clark Atlanta MBA programme was that business students would be offered training in communications in order to sharpen their communication skills - a great asset for any person who wants to succeed in business.

 The delegation also held discussions with the Acting Dean of Journalism and Communication,       Mr. Ato Amoaning-Annan and the Interim Director of the AUCC School of Information Technology, Mr. Prince Deh,  on innovative ways in which  faculty  and students from both institutions could benefit from the partnership.

Whilst at AUCC, Dr. Silver and Dr. Brown met with the faculty members and interacted with a cross section of students at separate meetings. 

At the meeting with faculty members, the President of AUCC, Hon Kojo Yankah, welcomed the CAU delegation and emphasized to faculty members that the partnership between the two universities was going to be mutually beneficial to both universities.   Addressing the faculty members, Dr. Silver stated that the partnership between the two universities was based on mutual trust, respect and a shared commitment towards excellence and quality. He did not hesitate to add that this historic partnership had been initiated by the two visionary presidents of the two universities, Mr. Kojo Yankah (AUCC) and Dr. Carlton Brown (CAU).

At the meeting with the students, Dr. Paul Brown advised them that in this era of globalization, it would be beneficial for them to take advantage of the impending academic exchange programmes between the two universities. He stated that partaking in this programme will “broaden their minds as well as enable them to discover and experience different cultures whilst learning”.

To culminate their visit to AUCC, Dr. Silver and Dr. Paul Brown  granted  an interview to Radio AUCC (the School’s  Training Studio for Radio Journalists)   after which Dr. Silver handed over his personal watch to Master Leslie Tetteh, a level 400 Radio journalism student as a token  reminder of the pact between the two universities.

OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE YOUR IT/ICT SKILLS

The African University College of Communications ( AUCC) located in Adabraka, Accra is now offering certificate short courses in Communication Technology specially designed to enhance your skills and competencies in today's information and communication era.
Courses include:

1. IT in Business
2. Management Information System ( MIS)
3. E-Banking
4. Database Management System ( DMS)
5. ICT Project Management
6. IT Security
7. IT Governance
8. IT Trends and Development
9. Introduction to Web Deisgn
10. Open Source Software
11. Social Network Media
12. Microsoft Office Suite including effective Powerpoint presentation and Data Analysis

for more details, contact the Director of the School of Communication Technology Prince on 0548686990/ pd212208@yahoo.com or visit the schools website at www.aucc.edu.gh

Interview with Mr. Bernard Otabil

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This interview was granted to ascertain the views of Mr. Bernard Otabil of the future of the new Business School of the African University College of Communications. He is the Director of the Business School that was launched today at the Discovery House Campus in Adabraka.His ambitions for the new school go far beyond the borders of Ghana and envisions the new school will churn out students who would be very innovative and creative in positively impacting the wider business community

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT NEEDS A MULTI FACETTED APPROACH - NANA KONADU DECLARES AT AUCC

Former First lady of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has stated that “a multi- facetted approach is needed to make women empowerment a reality”. She said this at the African University College of Communications (AUCC) on Monday, 17th January, 2011 during the launch of the women’s week celebration organized by the AUCC Students Representative Council
The theme for the launch was “Empowering today’s woman for the challenges of the 21st Century.”    
Mrs. Rawlings, who was the guest speaker for the programme, stated that although there had been some positive strides towards the attainment of gender equality in Ghana, “there is no systematic approach towards the empowerment of women in Ghana”. She therefore advised the female students to seek for empowerment wherever they found themselves since empowerment issues were inherent in politics, marriage, culture and tradition, religion, education, business and health. She took the opportunity to advise the ladies not to shy away from politics and current affairs since their very survival hang on the decisions made by politicians.
Mrs. Rawlings stressed on the need for women to seek for education and knowledge in order to identify and understand the issues that confronted them and find solutions to them. “Use your God given talents to bring positive change wherever you find yourself.” she advised.
She indicated that one of UNICEF’s key messages on the empowerment of women stipulates that “women and children are the double dividends of gender equality”. She emphasized that gender equality was an indispensable tool needed to equip women to lead productive lives which would ultimately benefit their children (male or female).
She further encouraged the students to endeavor to be confident and proactive after they had been armed with the necessary education and knowledge since knowledge was more beneficial when applied.
Lastly, she emphasized that women empowerment did not mean that women wanted to have power over men but it rather meant that women wanted partnership with men because although women constituted more than half of the world’s population, they wielded only 10% of the world’s income and a paltry 1% of the means of production.
Other speakers at the progamme included the chairman of the launch, AUCC’s Executive Vice President, Prof. E. Ofori Akyea who likened the empowerment of women to “a rooster that belongs to one family but crows for the whole village”. This proverb according to the learned Professor simply meant that the entire nation would be better off when women were empowered.

DR. MACDAVIS URGES AUCC GRADUANDS TO HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION

The African University College of Communication (AUCC) has held its 7th Graduation Ceremony at the Discovery House Campus of the University College at Adabraka, Accra on 10th November 2010. The theme for the ceremony was “Broadening Educational Opportunities through International Communication".

Delivering the keynote address, the President of Ohio University in U.S.A. Dr. Roderick MacDavis exhorted the graduands to apply whatever they had learnt at AUCC in a positive, meaningful and productive way wherever they found themselves. He advised the graduands to start seeing themselves as professionals who would continue to be seekers of knowledge. Dr. MacDavis however impressed on the graduands that they needed to have a serious plan of action in order to ensure that their dreams became realities that could help to elevate Ghana and the rest of Africa.

The President of AUCC, Hon. Kojo Yankah in his address, revealed that AUCC was set to be the first university in West Africa to introduce Health Communication as an academic discipline in 2011. He stated that other courses to be introduced in 2011 were B.A. in Communication Technology, M.A. in Journalism and M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications. Hon. Yankah also revealed that plans were for advanced for the establishment of AUCC campuses in Tamale and Kumasi in the Northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana, Overall Best-Student

The Director of Statistics at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Dominic Pealore read a speech on behalf of the Vice President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama who was the Special Guest of Honour of the Ceremony. He stated that international communications was an important component of education because it placed students in a unique position by offering them different global perspectives whilst keeping them abreast with current issues. He added that international communications was highly relevant in today’s global village since “it is the gateway of exposing students to the dynamics which make the world.”

A total of forty (40) students were awarded with their Diploma in Communication Studies certificates at the ceremony. Special awards were given to deserving graduands while the worker of the year award was given to Mr. Samuel Aidoo of the University’s I.T. department. The Deputy Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (C.H.R.A.J.) and Member of the AUCC Governing Council, Ms. Anna Bossman, presided over the ceremony as Chairman.

Interview with Kwabena Mantey

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Kwabena Mantey is the personal assistant to the president of the African University College of Communications.His appointment as the personal assistant took effect from November 2010.