It was all joy and happiness for some 1,116 students who graduated at the Third Session of the 14th Congregation of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, on Tuesday.
The graduating students, drawn from the Faculty of Accounting and Finance, were conferred with various diplomas and bachelor degrees.
They form part of the 2022 graduating cohort, which will see some 4,082 students graduate from the university.
Of the total number of students presented for graduation by the Faculty of Accounting and Finance, 938 were undergraduates and 178 were diploma students.
For the Undergraduate level, 17 students obtained First Class, 277 Second Class Upper, 325 Second Class Lower, 258 Third Class, and 61 passes. One of the diplomates attained distinction, while 98 obtained credit and 79 had passes.
In his address to the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Prof. Abednego F. O. Amartey, congratulated them on the successful completion of their academic journey with UPSA.
He charged them to stay focused as they aspire to attain their full potential in life and also advised them to be time-conscious in all their dealings.
Prof. Amartey stressed that time management and punctuality are essential attributes every young graduate must incorporate into his/her DNA in order to excel in the world of work.
He therefore cautioned against the blatant disregard for time by some young professionals, emphasising that “it will cost you your job.”
This is an observation I have made since we started the congregation last week,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
“I have noticed that some of you come very late. Even on your own special day, you are being late. This is unacceptable.”
He added: “I would rather employ a third-class student who is punctual than a first-class student who doesn’t mind about time management. These are some of the things employers look out for, and you should avoid some of these things at all cost. “
The Congregation Speaker and Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited, Dr Eric Asubonteng, on his part, urged graduands to uphold high professional standards and integrity as they make their entry into the corporate world.
He said that in doing so, graduates must also be prepared to develop their ICT skills to embrace the new normal brought about by the advent of technology in order for them to remain relevant in their chosen fields of endeavour.
“While some of these new technologies can be destructive and may lead to related job losses, they also present a significant number of opportunities which we shouldn’t lose sight of, especially in a developing country like ours,” Dr. Asubonteng noted.
“I urge you to embrace the new technologies and adapt to them so you are not left behind. Limiting yourself to the traditional means of offering your professional services alone could potentially render you irrelevant in today’s world.’’
