IPS Gets University Status

Prof. Joshua Alabi THE INSTITUTE of Professional Studies (IPS) has been presented with a Presidential Charter Certificate which enables it to award its own degrees, diplomas and certificates as a fully fledged university.

In his address, the Minister of Education, Alex Tettey-Enyo said, the presentation of the charter must be seen as a challenge to the institute to fully utilize its status as a university to pursue the core developmental aspirations of the country.

He noted that IPS is the only public tertiary institution in Ghana that offers both professional and academic programmes, leading to the award of professional certificates and degrees.

He said because the progress and developmental agenda of the country depends on higher education, there is the need to address some of the challenges facing tertiary education so as to enable higher educational institutions provides adequate solutions to the numerous socio-economic problems facing the country.

He stated that government acknowledges “the significant role Business Administration education plays in the development of the country and as an institution dedicated to that area of education, I expect IPS to play a leading role in the development of the private sector.”

He called on management of the institute to lay more emphasis on research and promotion of knowledge. “The institute should also develop linkages with foreign Universities and also consider collaborating and partnering with business and industry.”

Mr. Tettey-Enyo said government alone cannot fund education and for that matter educational institutions should innovate ways of generating funds internally to support their activities as well as augment governments efforts.

Even though this statement caused the students gathered at the ceremonial grounds to fidget among themselves, he said his Ministry would enhance the operations of the GETFund to ensure equitable and judicious use of its proceeds so that less endowed schools like IPS would receive the needed support for infrastructural development.

The Rector of the Institute, Prof. Joshua Alabi said the institute which was established in 1965 and subsequently taken over by government in 1978 has for the past years demonstrated that hard work, patience and focus definitely pays. “This award is the evidence of the hard work and commitment to excellence by IPS.”

He said in spite of the lack of requisite infrastructure and facilities coupled with the long period of developmental neglect, the institute has stood tall in the provision of Professional Accountancy and Management Education in Ghana.

“In Ghana, today the name IPS has become synonymous with excellent professional accountancy training and business education in Ghana”.

He stated that with a strong determination to transform the institute and also to meet the needs of the industry and commerce, the institute took steps to introduce degree programmes.

He added that the decision of management yielded results when it received accreditation, from the National Accreditation Board and in August 2005 started its Degree Programmes which include Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Accounting, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Marketing.

Since then he emphasized that the institute has expanded its programme-portfolio to include a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) Degree in Banking and Finance, and tertiary Diploma in Business Administration with options in Accounting, Management and Marketing as well as Diploma in Public Relations Management.

He therefore announced that in September 2009, the institute intends to officially launch its Masters Degree programs demonstrating growth as an institution of higher learning.

By Esther Awuah