The Faculty of Social Sciences has applauded first-class students for their unparalleled academic performance at this year’s Dean’s Awards ceremony.
One hundred and seventy-two (172) students were awarded at the event which was on the theme, “Navigating the transition from Academia to the Professional world”.
The Dean’s Awards ceremony is held annually to celebrate students with a CGPA of 3.6 and above at Levels 200 to 400.
The Director of Business Support and Innovation Commercialisation for the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, Mr. Franklin Owusu-Karikari, was the guest speaker at the ceremony.
He challenged tertiary students to widen their scope and learn new skills to contribute to the corporate environment.
Director of Business Support and Innovation Commercialisation, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, Mr. Franklin Owusu-Karikari
According to him, students should acquire ICT skills to compete on the global market.
"...I tell young graduates that before you finish your national service, become an advanced expert in Microsoft Office, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Excell. These are needed in the corporate environment. If you master these five areas you are a complete human being in the corporate environment", he observed.
Mr. Owusu-Karikari advised students to take advantage of mentoring opportunities on campus to receive the requisite grooming that would spur them on to success.
He advised them to be time-conscious in all endeavours since bad time management impeded the progress of many people worldwide, with Ghanaians, not an exception.
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme presenting an awardee with a certificate of honour
“Many opportunities exist on the job market”, he added, but one could only take advantage of them through punctuality, upgrading of professional skills, and rebranding.”
Mr. Owusu-Karikari, therefore, encouraged students to have an entrepreneurial mindset to avoid unemployment and build linkages that could push them ahead of others in projects they undertake.
He further advised students to leverage forums, seminars and conferences organised on campus and improve upon their capabilities.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, commended the students for making their lecturers and themselves proud and urged them not to rest on their oars but continue to study hard to realise their vision of becoming what they wanted to be in future.
He said their progress would be monitored as they climbed the ladder of academic excellence.
MP for Cape Coast North, Dr. Kwamena Mintah-Nyarku
In a remark, the honourable MP for Cape Coast North, Dr. Kwamena Mintah-Nyarku, charged students to access driver’s licenses and passports while on campus.
"Minimise the intake of pizza and get a passport and driver's license. You should not leave the shores of UCC without a driver's license or passport. You need these two things as you get to the field of work," he counselled.
The MP praised the awardees for their sterling performance and advised them not to relent in their efforts but to keep on burning the midnight candle to enable them to complete their education with distinction.
At the event, various speakers used the occasion to hail the awardees and commiserated with others who were unable to be on the Dean’s List.
Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng presenting an awardee with a certificate
The ceremony was chaired by the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC