Welcome Message from the Coordinator
On behalf of the Dean and Management of the UPSA School of Graduate Studies, I am delighted to welcome you to the MSc Pension Management programme. We are excited you chose UPSA and look forward to a rewarding partnership as you strive to reach your full potential. Our graduate programmes are built on a foundation of excellence, innovation, and high-quality teaching, learning, and research.
The MSc Pension Management programme is designed to equip future leaders with the skills needed to ensure compliance with pension standards, best practices, and regulations. This programme uniquely blends theory with practical application, preparing students for high-level managerial roles while maintaining academic rigor. Graduates will gain practical, hands-on skills to tackle challenges in pension management and will be equipped to demonstrate specialised leadership abilities in this field.
We are proud of our achievements and look forward to continued success. Should you need any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the programme coordinator.
We trust you’ll share our vision and passion as you embark on this journey with us!
Philosophy of the Programme
The philosophy of the MSc in Pensions Management programme is to train graduates to be knowledgeable and competent in pension management to support the manpower needs of the emerging industry. The curriculum places emphasis on equipping graduates with knowledge in pension management and developing their skills to function effectively in the industry.
In consonance with this philosophy, the National Pensions Regulatory Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory institutions were consulted to provide input for the realisation of the philosophical underpinning of the programme. As a result, evidence of collaborative statements was obtained from the stated institutions and included in this application.
Programme Objectives
The main aim of the MSc in Pension Management programme is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to apply pension management techniques. The specific objectives are to:
• Describe the different types of pension systems and how they have evolved.
• Explain how different pension systems are financed, and their short- and long-term risks.
• Describe the measurement of short- and long-term risk associated with different system
• Explain the regulatory framework and standards in the pension industry.
• Describe international best practices in pension scheme governance.
• Develop the competences of students to advice governments, institutions and companies on issues of pensions and related matters.
• Equip students with the ability to undertake independent and policy driven research on pensions and related issues.
• Equip students with the skills to use computer application softwares such as Stata,
• Java Virtual Machine and/or R in pension management.
Programme Learning Outcomes
At the end of the MSc in Pensions Management programme, students will:
• Understand the different types of pension systems and how they have evolved.
• Discuss the financing of different pension systems and their short- and long-term risks.
• Measure short- and long-term risk associated with different pension systems.
• Apply the regulatory framework and standards in the Pensions industry.
• Understand international best practices in pension scheme governance.
• Advice governments, institutions and companies on issues of pensions.
• Undertake independent and policy driven research on pensions and related issues.
• Use computer application software such Stata, Java Virtual Machine and/or the R software to solve pension and related problems.
Programme Structure
SEMESTER ONE COURSES
(3 Credits hours per course) |
SEMESTER TWO COURSES
(3 Credits hours per course) |
MPSM601: Comparative Pension System | MPSM602: Data Administration & Pension IT System |
MPSM603: Financing for Pension Schemes | MPSM604: Pension Economics |
MPSM605: Pensions Accounting | MPSM608: Pension Risk Management |
MPSM607: Research Methods in Pensions | MCPC612: Strategic Management |
MPSM609: Social Security in Ghana | MPSM600: Project Work – 3 Credit Hours |
MPSM611: Regulation & Compliance of Pension Schemes | |
Elective Courses
MPSM613: Equity Analysis
MPSM615: Actuarial Finance
MPSM617: Collective Investment Schemes &Securities Law |
Elective Courses
MPSM606: Portfolio Theory and Management
MPSM612: Financial Modelling
MPSM614: Fixed Income
MPSM616: Retirement Planning |
Programme Coordinator’s Profile
Ing. Dr. Nii Ayitey Akoto, R. is a Petroleum Reservoir Engineer, Economist, and Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Actuarial Science at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). With over a decade of industry experience and more than five years in academia, he combines expertise in teaching, research, and administration.
Ing. Dr. Akoto’s professional journey began at Schlumberger, where he worked as a Reservoir Engineer, followed by his role as Principal Technologist and Head of the Oil and Gas Unit at the Institute of Industrial Research, CSIR. He holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from BIU and the AGH University of Science and Technology Consortium and is a UNESCO/AGH UST Chair Fellow in Engineering.
At UPSA, he teaches courses in petroleum valuation modeling, mathematics, and statistics, while his research focusses on petroleum valuation, nano-enhanced oil recovery, and mechanical systems dynamics. His scholarly contributions include publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at prestigious international conferences.
In addition to his academic responsibilities, Ing. Dr. Akoto coordinates three graduate programmes at the UPSA School of Graduate Studies. They include MBA Petroleum Accounting and Finance, MSc Risk Management and Insurance, and MSc Pensions Management.
He is a professional member of both the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), underscoring his commitment to advancing the fields of engineering and petroleum economics.
Contact the Coordinator via:
email: nii.ayitey-akoto@upsamail.edu.gh
Phone Number: +233 209978020
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 10 weeks
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 0
- Assessments Yes