Dr Wilson Kwame Yayoh

We welcome you to our website and the launch of the Centre for African and International Studies (CAIS), Faculty of Arts, UCC. This new Centre is the result of years of hard work and planning to ensure we offer some exciting and pertinent undergraduate and postgraduate courses in African and International Studies. These unique courses within the CAIS place Africa at the centre of its approach to the study of International issues to ensure a more African-centred perspective in our delivery. The Centre is devoted to quality undergraduate and postgraduate courses and to undertake academic research into both national and international policies within the context of the global economy. The establishment of the CAIS at this time in Africa's history and development helps to place the Centre strategically as a specialist area, able to give future advice and research consultancy on policy issues in respect of internationally significant institutions such as the European Union, the UN, World Bank and regional bodies or institutions like ECOWAS and NEPAD. This, therefore, enables UCC to be at the forefront in the formulation of African-based positions and policies in response to issues affecting Ghana specifically, and the African continent more generally. For this reason, the postgraduate courses in the International Studies Programme will focus on four broad areas of African Diaspora, Globalisation, Regionalism and Understanding Contemporary Africa.

The CAIS is situated between two internationally renowned former slave castles which provide a unique opportunity to revisit, re-examine and document schorlarly material pertaining to the trans-Atlantic slave trade as it emanated from Ghana. Furthermore, the Centre provides opportunities to engage in important research concerning the African Diaspora in the Americas, Asia and Europe which were formed as a result of the slave trade. Migration and Diaspora studies are important themes in the contemporary globalised world and the Centre places UCC at the very heart of such crucial areas of academic pursuit. The centre is cognisant of the fact that Africa's history, politics, society and culture are all inter-linked and that this necessitates a multidisciplinary and eclectic approach to our understanding of Africa both before and since the Second World War. Because of the multidisciplinary approach that is used to study Africa and other regions of the world, the CAIS is able to attract lecturers from a wide range of academic backgrounds and interests which provides a rich mosaic of courses for students.Students are able to understand the experiences and roles of African countries within the wider global context. On behalf of the CAIS, I would like to once again welcome you to our website and hope you will find the information useful. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions, queries or comments.

The Centre for African and International Studies (CAIS) started as the Department of African Studies in 2003 and was given accreditation to run B. A. degree programme in African Studies. It has consistently produced graduates, some of whom have progressed to complete postgraduate degrees in areas such as African Studies. Many of the current issues and news making international headlines seem to have some bearing upon people in Africa whether directly or indirectly. These include; international migration crisis in Europe, the threat of global terrorism, global poverty and environmental issues and emerging economies with potential for economic development. The coming into being of the Centre was a corollary to the need to contextualise African Studies within the globalised world, bearing in mind that the relations between African and other regions of the world will continue to be crucial in the future; while at the same time, ensuring that particularly critical aspects of Ghana/Africa’s indigenous cultural traditions and history, are continually being researched and preserved. This calls for the introduction of comprehensive and innovative MA and MPhil/PhD programmes in African and International Studies.

Vision

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To establish the Centre for African and International Studies as the flagship research institution renown for educating students skilled in diplomacy, policy formulation and the design of African solutions to African development challenges.

 

Mission

To provide quality undergraduate and graduate courses in areas of African and International Studies. In addition, to undertake independent and collaborative research into national and international policies within the context of the global economy, to formulate African-based positions and policies in response to issues affecting Ghana specifically, and the African continent generally, and to explore linkages between Africa and the Diaspora..

IN THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS:
1. CAIS seeks to have its own dedicated office complex with facilities for teaching, learning, research and conferences.
2. It seeks to hold annual international conferences and seminars, some of which will be income generating.
3. It seeks to establish a specialist library/museum dedicated to the study of African history and culture.

WE BELIEVE IN:
1. The centrality of Africa at the heart of our studies.
2. The importance of a student-centred learning experience.
3. The equality, fairness and respect for all our staff and students.
4. The pursuit of excellence in teaching and research.
5. The pooling of lecturers with a wealth of knowledge and experience on Africa and its Diaspora

1. This is the only course of its kind in Ghana.
2. This is one of the few courses of its kind on the African continent.
3. CAIS at UCC is in close proximity to two of the world's oldest slave castles.
4. Due to increasing globalisation, there is the need to study Africa in this global context.

 

Events

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