This is our third and last presentation on the Hospitality and Tourism Department of the University of Cape Coast. It features selected collaborations of the department with international educational institutions, relevant local establishments and industry-related associations and the impact of the coronavirus on teaching and learning processes among others.
International Partnerships and Linkages
i. Universitat de Girona, Spain
ii. UCC- Cape Peninsula University of Technology: This agreement is still in its formative stage as the MOU is still being fine-tuned at the higher levels (as at June 2021).
iii. Swiss Hotel School, MOU yet to be signed (as at June 2021)
iv. University of Lausanne, Switzerland and French Embassy, Ghana: The Department has signed an MOU with the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and has submitted a joint proposal for a research grant.
v. Partnership with – Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Loerrach (Germany): The first phase of a three-year exchange project on Sustainable Tourism Development started in November, 2019 with fifteen students and two faculty visiting our department. The second phase, where eighteen students and two faculty members of our department were to visit Germany, has been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.
UCC Department of Hospitality and Tourism Partners KEEA to Boost Tourism
vi. Collaboration with KEEA(Komenda Edina Eguafo Aberem): The first phase of the Elmina Tourism Improvement Project currently being undertaken with the Komenda Edina Eguafo Aberem Municipal Assembly has successfully ended and plans to commence Phase 2 are on hold due to COVID-19. Read more about this on UCC Department of Hospitality and Tourism Partners KEEA to Boost Tourism
vii. Industry Associations
GHATOF, TOUGHA and GHANA HOTELIERS’ ASSOCIATION
Research Journal
The Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management under the editorship of Professor Ishmael Mensah hosts a research journal as part of its outreach activities named African Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (AJHTM).
Donation from 2000 Alumni Year Group
The 2000 Alumni Year Group of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management has donated computers and accessories valued at GH¢ 40,000 to enhance teaching, learning and research at the Department. (Aug 04, 2020)
Impact of the Coronavirus on Teaching and Learning processes
Believe it or not, my concerns on the impact of the coronavirus on teaching and learning was what led me ‘knocking on the doors’ of our various institutions. As you can ‘see’ from earlier discussions and presentations we have got so much more! A short chat with Dr. Eunice F. Amissah, HOD, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, University of Cape Coast follows.
Mode of Teaching and Learning
HOST: Training online, blended learning; is this just a phase which will soon pass away once the corona virus is ‘out of sight’?
GUEST: I think this is something good that came with the corona virus; that is, the innovation of online teaching. I personally think we should continue with it. We should blend the classroom with online teaching. Now, globally, it’s about online engagement. In continuing with it, students will learn and gain experience so that they don’t miss out in the Global village.
HOST: Following the challenges industry has been enduring since the corona virus outbreak, practical attachment or internship with industry has also become a challenge for academia. Have you as an institution been able to resolve this problem with industry?
GUEST: We are looking forward to engaging with industry soon. We have some proposals to table and trust we can resolve the matter, particularly with industry here in Cape Coast.
Other Observations in respect to the coronavirus pandemic
• Students are sent notes through the University’s Module Platform.
• Teaching assistants are available to assist students.
• The usual protocol of wearing face masks, washing hands and sanitizing as well as social distancing are being observed.
• A COVID-19 committee has been formed together with other sister departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences to enforce compliance with the COVID-19 safety measures among students and staff.
Class size
In relation to class size, we naturally expect reductions in numbers handled at a time. Original sizes which range from 45 to 134 has been reduced to 25-45 students per class and session. There are therefore 2 to 3 batches created within a class. Lecturers therefore have to present the same material a few more times than before the onset of the corona virus.
Note:
Blended learning- this involves combining online teaching and learning, through the University’s Module Platform and other third-party platforms including Zoom, with traditional place-based classroom methods on a 70:30% ratio.
Students’ Concerns
- Information provided to them too much (information overload)
- Challenges with adequate data to download materials
- Students underestimated what online learning was going to demand from them; more assignments, more activities and generally, quite intensive.
This concludes our show case of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Cape Coast. It’s been an insightful journey for most of us who have been out of touch with the department for quite some time. Thank you, all.
