The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has launched four new academic programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels as part of efforts to strengthen public policy leadership and data-driven decision-making in Ghana and beyond.
The programmes, PhD in Public Policy and Leadership, MPhil in Applied Statistics, MSc in Applied Statistics, and BSc in Applied Statistics, were officially unveiled at a ceremony held on Thursday, February 5, 2025, at the Professional Christian Union Auditorium at the University.
Speaking at the launch, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, described the introduction of the programmes as a significant expansion of the university’s academic portfolio and a demonstration of its resolve to respond to evolving national and global needs.
He said the new offerings were designed not only to provide academic qualifications but also to serve as strategic interventions to support governance, policy formulation and industry development.
According to him, the PhD in Public Policy and Leadership was developed purposely to support Members of Parliament and other senior public sector leaders, adding that the university intends to relaunch the programme in Parliament in the coming days for legislators.
He stressed that statistics was “not optional but foundational,” noting that data competence had become indispensable in the fourth industrial revolution.
“With these additions, UPSA now runs 69 academic programmes, and we remain committed to equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills required to transform society,” Prof Mawutor said. “For a nation to develop, we need data. That is why we have introduced programmes in applied statistics aimed at shaping public policy and strengthening decision-making.”
Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies, Dr. Ernest Abraham, expressed enthusiasm about the introduction of the PhD in Public Policy and Leadership, noting that it was developed in collaboration with industry and key stakeholders to ensure competitiveness and relevance.
Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Finance, Prof. Isaac Boadi, also welcomed the addition of the BSc, MSc and MPhil programmes in Applied Statistics, indicating that they would enhance the university’s capacity to train professionals capable of applying statistical methods to real-world economic and financial challenges.
Providing an overview of the doctoral programme, Director of the Office of Doctoral Programmes, Prof. Raymond Dziwornu, outlined the structure, course requirements and research expectations for the PhD in Public Policy and Leadership, emphasising its strong interdisciplinary and practice-oriented focus.
Admissions to the new programmes are expected to commence in March this year.
