The Minister for Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has encouraged graduates of the School of Graduate Studies to serve humanity with the knowledge acquired through their studies wherever they find themselves.
“I urge you to make optimum use of the knowledge you have acquired from the university, and make a difference whatever you are,” he said.
The Minister was speaking at the 17th Session of the 50th Congregation held for graduates of the School of Graduate Studies where a total of 1104 graduates, made up of 54 PhD, 202 MPhil, 608 MCom/MBA, 9 Master of Nursing, 119 MEd/MSc, 60 MA, and 48 PGDE/PGCE were presented.
The rest are 9 graduates with Executive Masters in Hospitality Management and one Master of Human Resource Management.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh told the graduates that: “With the assemble of degrees and knowledge, Ghana should not be found wanting. Wherever you find yourself you have to brighten the corner. Let us see and feel your presence in the economy and society called Ghana".
Dr. Prempeh, who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, promised that his Ministry would help complete the School of Graduate Studies building project. "Mr. Vice-Chancellor, this year is a stress year for GETFUND. However, out of the stresses there are opportunities and one of the opportunities is to help you complete your Graduate School Project. I can make that promise," he said, in response to an appeal made by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, for the Ministry to assist the University to complete the project.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh advised the graduates to remember their alma mater and urged them to adhere to the virtues of hard work, determination and dedication to enable them to excel in all their endeavours. He commended the lecturers and the University authorities for training and helping the students to complete their studies and urged them to continue to work hard for their students to also improve their lot to ensure their total development.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, congratulated graduates on the successful completion of their academic programmes and called on them to be active members of the UCC alumni association in their respective regions. He announced that the School of Graduate Studies had added 12 new demand-driven programmes, which had been approved by the Academic Board to its existing stock of 391 programmes.
The new programmes, according to the Vice-Chancellor, included MPhil/PhD (Irrigation Technology), MPhil/PhD (Poor-harvest Technology) and MEd/MPhil/PhD in Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education, Educational Leadership, as well as MEd / MPhil / PhD in Economics of Education. Other programmes, which are yet to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board, are MPhil/PhD (Agricultural Mechanism and Machinery Technology).
Prof. Ampiah commended the School of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana for instituting research grant to support students in their research work.
Delivering the valedictory, the Minster for Information, Hon. Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, who was part of the graduating students, charged follow graduands to exhibit the qualities of tenacity, determination and perseverance in all their endeavours.
Dr. Hamid said:” In today's world, a post graduate certificate was not an open-sesame for a job.” He thanked lecturers and supervisors for their efforts towards the award of their degrees. He advised the graduates to desist from defaming the certificate of the University.
At the ceremony, deserving supervisors and students were awarded for their supervision and academic excellence respectively.
Find more pictures about the ceremony here
Award winners for the 17th Session of the 50th Congregation here
Decoration of PhD Graduands here