The University of Professional Studies Accra has organized a Matriculation ceremony to.officially welcome 3,216 newly admitted students for the 2016/2017 academic year.
The figure represents 46.25 percent of the 6,954 applicants received by the University with the breakdown as follows: 592 students were admitted at the Diploma level, while undergraduates were 1,942; postgraduate students were 596, and professional level-79.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joshua Alabi in an address announced that the University had introduced two new programmes, namely the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme and the Bachelor of Science Actuarial Science programme.
Prof Alabi further stated other programmes such as the PhD Leadership and PhD Marketing were at different levels of the accreditation process and would soon be rolled out when the required processes were completed.
Advising the matriculants, the Vice-Chancellor indicated that more often than not, there is a tendency by students to see the oath swearing segment of the ceremony as a routine, hurriedly done and merely to fulfill an obligation. This, he stated should not be the case.
“The swearing off the oath should be seen as an occasion to make solemn declaration and commitment of oneself to abide by the requirements of the oath,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He advised the matriculants to develop their creative abilities, aim high and diligently purse their education aspirations.
“You have come here mainly to improve yourselves academically, so you should develop a very serious approach toward your studies.”
The Vice-Chancellor expressed his gratitude towards the University Community for the wonderful support he had enjoyed over the years. He was particularly happy about the absence of any incidence of industrial action and student demonstration. He attributed this to the wonderful relationships that exist within the University Community. He pleaded that the same support be granted to his successor, Pof Okoe Feehi Amartey.
He mentioned that the University Council had given approval for the acquisition of 100 plots of land at Oyibi, near Accra, for the construction of staff bungalows.
“This initiative is within the context of management’s desire to motivate staff of the University, who have worked very hard over the past years to improve conditions at the University, and also to continue to give of their best,” he said.
He also mentioned the work was currently ongoing on the construction of a 3,500 sitting capacity auditorium and a student centre. This edifice, when completed will among other things, house; shops, food courts, meeting rooms etc., which will facilitate other campus activities outside the lecture halls.
Chairperson of University council, Mr. Justice Nii Aryeetey, advised the matriculants not to live beyond their means or else it would not auger well for them. He urged them to be studious and come out with flying colours at end of their various programmes.
