University of Ghana holds congregation

UG Congregation

Accra, Nov.8, GNA - The University of Ghana on Friday held a graduation ceremony for its second batch of students since the Institution committed itself to graduating students the same year that they complete their final examination.

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said a total of 4,079 students were graduating this month at various course levels.  

He said over the next few days, students from the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Law, the Schools of Allied Health Sciences and Public Health, the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, and graduate students from across the University, would be graduated.

The graduating students received various certifications conferred on them by retired Justice Dr Samuel Date-Bah, Chairman of the University Council.

Prof Aryeetey said at the Bachelor's level, a total of 2,967 students are graduating. 20.2 per cent of the graduating class obtained First Class Honours, 333.6 per cent Second Class Upper, 37.9 per cent Second Class Lower and 7.3 per cent, Third Class, he said.

He explained that degrees for graduates from the School of Allied Health Sciences were not classified, however one Diploma graduate out of the 87 graduating obtained a distinction, with the rest obtaining passes.

The 1,091 post-graduates include seven Doctor of Philosophy candidates.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University has received very positive feedback on the congregation ceremonies held in July this year.

Prof Aryeetey said the University would move into the Collegiate system, from the 2014/2015 academic year, which would pave the way for congregations to be organised by Colleges, with each College incorporating its individual identity into the graduation ceremony.

He said following the University Council's approval for the restructuring of the Institution into four Colleges, Management had remained prudent in ensuring the smooth take off of the structure.

The Vice-Chancellor said the authorities of the University are dialoguing with Government and other partners on how best to position the school to play a more relevant role in the development and transformation of the country and beyond.

'With support, it is our aim to that the University of Ghana will be transformed into a research University with greater emphasis placed on post-graduate work and research,' he said.

He said the University has proposed that there should be a ratio of 50:50 between regular under-graduate and post-graduate students over the next decade.

This is in line with the University's plans to increase graduate admissions by about 15 per cent every academic year and gradually phase out diploma programmes, with the last admission to such programmes being in the 2015/2016 academic year.

Mr Kwaku Bedu-Addo, Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited, who was Congregation speaker, said there current job market requires extra creativity and innovation in addition to the higher educational knowledge, to make a difference and ensure change.

He said it is therefore critical that graduates embrace the change, develop positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship and improve upon their communication skills in order to meet changing job requirements and market demands.

GNA