The University of Cape Coast has appealed to the Bank of Ghana to support the facility of a Smart Data for Advancement Centre targeted at enhancing research, innovation and evidence-based policymaking.
The appeal was made by the Vice Dean of the School of Economics, Professor Emmanuel Ekow Asmah, during a courtesy check out to the Guv of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, at the Bank Square in Accra.
Teacher Asmah said the proposed centre would boost advanced analytics, enhance research infrastructure, provide real-time information for policy intelligence and enhance capability development for trainees and researchers.
He described that the centre would also promote applied research study, innovation and digital solutions while expanding the University’s engagement with the casual sector through data-driven interventions.
Highlighting the effect of a Data Science and Artificial Intelligence job supported by the central bank, Asmah revealed that the effort had considerably sophisticated data literacy amongst students and neighborhoods.
According to him, the University got about 400 applications for its online Information Science and Expert system training programme after mentoring facilitators. Although only 180 individuals might be accommodated, all effectively completed the program, with strategies already underway for a 2nd friend.
He added that the effort had been reached selected Senior High Schools through the facility of Data Science for Mentorship (DS4M) Clubs, which have so far reached about 140 trainees.
Beyond the education sector, the University has actually also supplied information literacy training for market ladies and artisans, including mechanics, to improve organization decision-making and financial management.
Professor Asmah further exposed that a University team established a Smart Business Tracking Tool to help micro and small enterprises enhance budgeting, record-keeping and service preparation, with strategies to broaden its adoption nationwide.
He kept in mind that the effort has actually drawn in the interest of the Ghana Statistical Service, which is thinking about teaming up with the University to scale the program into a national project.
The Vice Dean likewise proposed the introduction of a National Data Literacy Week and urged the Bank of Ghana to upgrade the initiative into a Centre of Excellence, consisting of the establishment of a Bank of Ghana Research study Chair to promote research in information intelligence and policy analytics.
Responding, Bank of Ghana Guv Dr. Johnson Asiama invited the delegation and announced the intro of the Monetary Policy Committee Educational Observership Programme (MPC EOP), designed to offer university students practical direct exposure to the work of the Monetary Policy Committee.
He said the program would assist economics students much better comprehend how choices on inflation, interest rates and exchange rates are made while strengthening openness and collaboration between academia and policymakers.
Dr. Asiama likewise ensured the delegation that the Bank would consider the University’s ask for support towards broadening its data literacy initiatives and establishing the proposed Smart Data for Advancement Centre.
The Dean of the School of Economics, Professor Isaac Dasmani, thanked the Bank for its continued support, while the Provost of the College of Liberal Arts and Legal Studies, Professor Daniel Agyapong, presented a celebratory keepsake to the Governor.