The Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance was established in 2001 as the Academic Quality Assurance Unit (AQAU). Its initial mandate was to monitor and facilitate the various processes and procedures which directly or indirectly relate to academic standards. In 2006, the Unit was upgraded into the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance with two sections, namely Academic Planning and Academic Quality Assurance charged with the responsibility to ensure the maintenance as well as continuous improvement of academic standards at the University of Cape Coast. Specifically, the Academic Planning Section is responsible for coordinating the planning and monitoring of academic programmes while the Quality Assurance Section is responsible for monitoring both academic and administrative activities meant to ensure the continuous improvement of academic standards in the University.
To be a directorate of excellence for the promotion and maintenance of quality standards in higher education in Ghana.
To position Total Quality Management at the centre of academic, administrative and planning systems in the University
We deploy total quality management tools and competencies aided by technology to plan, coordinate, sensitize, monitor and evaluate the University's programmes, processes, and products to position the university as a centre of excellence.
The long-term aim of the Directorate is to become a model centre for the delivery of services in total quality management.
The Core Values of the Directorate are as follows:
- Relevance: Appropriate quality and planning mechanisms to be identified and agreed upon by all stakeholders for the various sections and activities of the University.
- Realism: Realistic measures that are instituted and geared towards improving existingresources for quality enhancement.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Using the most cost-effective means to achieve desired results.
- Synergy: Application of strategies that are holistic and enable all sections to respond positively to quality issues in teaching, learning, research, management and governance.
- Partnerships: Consciously promote collaboration internally (management, staff and students) and externally (other universities, industry and development partners).
- Dynamism: Instituting structures for periodic review systems to respond to local,national and global trends.
- Monitor the accreditation status of academic programmes in the University
- Conduct students’ appraisal of courses and lectures in respect of all academic programmes
- Conduct tracer studies to inform the review and introduction of academic programmes in line with the demands of the job market and the views of other institutional stakeholders
- Monitor the quality status of academic, administrative, and physical infrastructure in the University
- Undertake research to inform academic policies and strategic plans of the University
- Conduct monitoring, and evaluation exercises to inform teaching, research and extension services in the University
- Collaborate with the Training and Development Section of the University to train academic, administrative, and support/technical staff based on the Directorate’s findings from its monitoring and evaluation exercise for purposes of continuous improvement
- Report to the Vice-Chancellor on quality management issues in the University
- Undertake any other activities assigned by the Vice-Chancellor
- Consultancy and training services for quality assurance departments of other higher institutions
- Evaluation of teaching and learning for basic and secondary school on request
| Name | Period |
| Prof. K. N. Eyeson | 2001 – 2006 |
| Prof. Kobina Yankson | 2006 – 2012 |
| Prof. Kofi Awusabo-Asare | 2012 – 2017 |
| Prof. John Victor Mensah | 2017 – 2019 |
| Prof. Godwin Awabil | 2019 – 2020 |
| Prof. Emmanuel K. Gyimah | 2020 - 2022 |
| Prof. Daniel Agyapong | 2022 - Date |