The University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and the University of Rhode Island, USA, have been in a partnership which is hinged on the internationalisation strategies of both universities, over some years. The relationship between the two institutions of higher education is mainly underscored by joint activities of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS) and the Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) respectively, of both Universities.
As part of a strategy to deepen the global status and further deliver specialised international programmes, the opportunity is now available for students of both universities to acquire a dual degree at the postgraduate level. The dual degree programme is currently being implemented at the pilot stage with the current postgraduate students at the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, at the University of Cape Coast.
The two Universities have signed an agreement to roll out the dual degree programme for highly motivated prospective PhD candidates. Students pursuing this special dual degree programme will follow a modified programme of study at each institution synchronously.
Photo: Vice-Chancellor of UCC and President of URI (middle) in a group photograph with representatives from both universities at the MoU signing event. Use the navigation wheel at the centre right of the photo to view hidden parts. Credit - CRC
This means that all candidates successfully admitted into the PhD programmes i.e. Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Oceanography and Limnology, Fisheries Science and Aquaculture) under the ACECoR implicitly pre-qualify for the dual degree arrangement and may, therefore, opt for it upon admission.
Candidates who will successfully complete this novel dual degree programme will concurrently receive a PhD in Biological and Environmental Sciences to be awarded by URI and a PhD in Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Oceanography and Limnology, Fisheries Science or Aquaculture to be awarded by UCC. Conditions surrounding the enrolment into the dual degree are described at the Dual Degree Programme Page.