Call for Applications

The Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) established under the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) for Development Impact Project and hosted by the Centre for Coastal Management, University of Ghana Cape Coast, Ghana, invites suitably qualified national, regional and international applicants into its MPhil and PhD degree programmes.

The overarching goal of ACECoR is to support technical capacity development of young African professionals to address issues of coastal degradation, as well as promote the sustainable utilization and management of marine and coastal assets within the sub-region.

ACECoR carries out education and research programs in collaboration with academic institutions and industries at the national, regional and international levels to ensure a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to addressing coastal degradation across the sub-region.

The specific objectives of ACECoR are to:

• Enhance capabilities of young African scholars in the thematic areas of Coastal Geomorphology and Engineering, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk Management and Migration, Ecosystems and Biodiversity Science and Blue Economy, Governance and Social resilience.
• Provide demand-driven applied research data and innovation for relevant industries and sectors in above themes.
• Develop regional data support systems on marine and coastal issues.
• Create multi-sectoral networks for marine and coastal for integrated approach to resolving coastal degradation in West Africa.
• Provide career development for faculty through international exchange programme and in-service training.

Programme on Offer

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Degree Programmes

• MPhil in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• MPhil in Oceanography and Limnology
• MPhil in Fisheries Science
• MPhil in Aquaculture
• MPhil in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience
• MPhil in Coastal Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree Programmes

• PhD in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• PhD in Oceanography and Limnology
• PhD in Fisheries Science
• PhD in Aquaculture
• PhD in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience
• PhD in Coastal Engineering

Programme Descriptions

Master of Philosophy - MPhil

The ACECoR MPhil programmes are designed as intensive modular courses with a research component. Students admitted to the programmes spend a 12-month period of learning on course modules and another 12 months on research.

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

The ACECoR PhD programmes are designed as 36-month intensive full-time research programmes. Students in the programme spend 24 months on field research and data collection and 12 months for organizing and writing their thesis, including attending relevant seminars and conferences to gain critical knowledge and/or present preliminary research results.

ACECoR Programmes are Internationally Accredited

The MPhil and PhD programmes in Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Fisheries Science hosted at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and run under ACECoR are internationally accredited by the German accreditation agency AQAS (www.aqas.de). Due to the internationally accredited status, theses programmes are listed in the European database of accredited programmes DEQAR (www.deqar.eu) where other competitive European graduate mobility programmes such as the Erasmus Mundus programmes are also listed. Students enrolling on the ACECoR programmes therefore receive equal level of measured professional benefits in training and mentorship as received for enrolling on European programmes.

Highlight of the new MPhil and PhD in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience are ACECoR’s new flagship programmes jointly developed with the Department of Applied Economics at the School of Economics, University of Cape Coast. The programmes provide a novel avenue for the development of requisite capacity in Africa that enables the continent to adequately explore opportunities and harness benefits from its blue economy.

One of the key goals of the ACECoR project is to promote the sustainable use and conservation of Africa’s coastal-marine resources. The idea is to promote sustainable management of these resources for accelerated economic growth and social progress. Oceans, seas and coastal areas abound in resources whose sustainable use are critical to development of the continent. Unfortunately, most of the resources derived from oceans, seas and coastal areas have the characteristics of common property resources and can thus be afflicted by the “Tragedy of the Commons”.

This is particularly true for most African countries where regulatory bodies to check over exploitation are weak. Moreover, the multiple use nature of blue resources amidst the lack of strong institutional governance of multi-national and multi-stakeholder interests on the African continent is increasingly creating conflicts over the ownership, access and use of these resources.

In a bid to address the efficient and sustainable interests of the diverse stakeholders, while managing conflicts over the use of blue resources and the ocean space, the MPhil and PhD programmes in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience have been developed to build capacity and conduct research in relevant thematic areas that contribute to addressing the above issues. The programmes therefore aim to produce graduates with the capacity to undertake multidisciplinary research, implement interventions, and contribute to policy-making in the blue economy, ocean governance and sustainable development.

The career prospects for graduates of the MPhil and PhD (Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience) programmes include Ministries for Agriculture, Fisheries, Finance and Economic Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Coastal Development and Local Government, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Tertiary/Research Institutions, International Organisations (African Union, World Bank, FAO, UNEP, etc.), and the private sector.

Details of the other MPhil and PhD programmes

For details on the other MPhil and PhD programmes see https://acecor.ucc.edu.gh/academics/programmes

Eligibility

The ACECoR programmes are available to all African nationals who meet admission requirements of University of Cape Coast. Priority for scholarships will be given to female applicants as well as applicants from West and Central African countries.

Admission Requirement

MPhil – The minimum admission requirement for the MPhil programmes is a first degree (Second Class Lower Division or equivalent) in a relevant Science, Social sciences, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics or Engineering discipline, from a recognized university. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate strong interest in research, development and innovation in science and technology, as well as the ability to work optimally and independently in an international multidisciplinary environment.

All candidates must submit the following (indicating the preferred area of research):

• Completed Scholarship Application form
• Certified true copy of academic certificates and transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Motivation
• Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one from a former lecturer/supervisor)
• A 2-3 page research proposal in the preferred area of research

Applicants must pass a selection interview and satisfy any additional requirements prescribed by the Department that hosts their programme of interest before they will be admitted.

PhD – The minimum admission requirement for the PhD programmes is a two- year master’s degree with research in a relevant Science or Engineering discipline or equivalent qualification from a recognized university. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate strong interest in research, development and innovation in science and technology, as well as the ability to work optimally and independently in an international multidisciplinary environment.
Note: Applicants for the PhD (Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience) programme must:
i. Have an MPhil or research MA/M.Ed/MSc/MBA degree in an appropriate field of study from a recognised university; OR
ii. Have MA/Med/MSc/MBA degree in an appropriate field, with CGPA of 3.5 or better with not more than grade C+. Also, have scored B+ or better in Research Methods course.

All candidates must submit the following (indicating the preferred area of research):

• Completed Scholarship Application form
• Certified true copy of academic certificates and transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Motivation
• Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one from a former lecturer/supervisor)
• 6. A 3-5-page research proposal in the preferred area of research

Applicants must pass a selection interview and satisfy any additional requirements prescribed by the Department that hosts their programme of interest before they will be admitted.

There are no restrictions based on gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability and political orientation of the candidates.