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16.03.2012 Education

Legon To Inrtroduce New PhD Structure

16.03.2012 LISTEN
By Seth J. Bokpe - Daily Graphic

The University of Ghana, Legon, is to introduce a new structure for its PhD programmes beginning from the 2012/ 2013 academic year.

Key among the changes to the existing programme include the admission of first degree holders into the MPhil/ PhD programmes and the introduction of comprehensive examinations for the candidates before they embark on their researches.

Additionally, students will now have to do a compulsory course work and formal defense of research proposals.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon Professor Ernest Aryeetey announced the changes at the 2012 congregation of the university.

He said the changes were to make “our doctoral students more analytical, ensure that they were familiar with current and relevant literature in their fields and also ensure that our doctoral programmes conform to best practice.”

While the ceremony had 3810 students graduating at various levels with 417 students obtaining first class honours, 17 of the post graduate graduands were Doctor of Philosophy candidates.

Prof Aryeetey said the ‘freshers first’ policy which gave accomodation priority to first year students was no longer in use, hence undergraduate students at all levels had an opportunity to be provided with accomodation if they so wished.

On the university’s popularity and usage of its websites, Prof Aryeetey said the institution placed 16th on the chart of the “Top 100 Universities and Colleges in Africa” on a recent 4ICU web rankings for 2012.

Prof Aryeetey said management had invited expressions of interest for a number of business opportunities which included the development of a commercial centre to cater for the needs of the university community and surrounding neighbours, completion of the sports complex, development of a modern hospital complex and modern public transport system for staff and students and the provision of dining facilities for students at the various halls of residence.

Other initiatives opened for private sector partnership included tolling of university roads and car parks and the development of a medical diagnostic centre.

The graduation ceremony was the last to be held in the month of March, because the university authorities had decided to hold smaller graduation ceremonies in July and November with a view to making students graduate in the same calendar year that they completed their studies.

The Vice-Chacellor said the installation of CCTV cameras in examination halls and the decentralisation of examination supervision had resulted in significant reduction in examination malpractices.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for the best graduating student admitted under the University of Ghana Admissions Policy for Less-Endowed Schools went to Madame Sarah Agyeniwaa and Mr Kwame Abukari.

The day was not just about graduating. Warm embraces, hugs and smiles were all over with picnic tables spread in almost every corner of the university to party the day away.

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