Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Aug. 20, GNA –
Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, Vice-Chancellor, University of
Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has challenged graduates to uphold the
values of integrity and professionalism.
“Be above reproach and
take the moral high ground. Don’t let the noise of others stifle your silent
inner voice. In the face of endless opportunities for both ill and good, your
moral compass must always stay true to its north, so as to guide you to do
right,” Prof Amartey stated in his address at the 10th Congregation of the UPSA.
“You are today’s stars
and tomorrow’s legends. I therefore, advise you according to the good book (the
Bible): Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be
any praise, meditate on these things.”
The VC urged the
graduands to join the UPSA Alumni Association and give back to their Alma
Mater; saying that, “be our goodwill ambassadors as you pursue your careers”.
The Congregation,
which was chaired by Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, the Chancellor of the UPSA, saw a
total of 3,387 students graduating.
Out of this number,
498 were diplomates, 2,301 undergraduate and 588 postgraduate students.
At the undergraduate
level a total of 31, representing 1.35 per cent of the graduating class
obtained First Class degrees, 653 or 28.38 per cent with Second Class Upper
degrees, 896 or 38.94 per cent with Second Class Lower degrees, 499 or 21 .69
per cent with Third Class degrees and the remaining 222 or 9.65 per cent went
home with Pass degrees.
Seventeen or 3.41 per
cent of the diplomates attained Distinction, while 291 obtained credit with I90
obtaining passes.
Prof Amartey said
when he assumed office; one of their top-most priorities was to develop a
new strategic plan to replace the existing one which expired on August 2017.
“I am happy to
inform you that we have been able to deliver on that by coming up with a new
five-year Strategic Plan (2018-2022),” he said.
He said the new
Strategic Plan offers a clear articulation of their vision for the next five
years and would serve as a roadmap as they sought to deliver excellence and
position UPSA for future success.
He said the Strategic
Plan outlines objectives and strategies, specific opportunities and ways to
measure their progress.
He said the Plan would
be subjected to constant objective reviews to establish its impact and maintain
its relevance.
Prof Amartey said
during the academic year under-review, the University established a Distance
Learning School (DLS) with the mandate to plan and implement distance learning
strategies and oversee its operations.
He said accordingly,
the DLS had been tasked with the mission “to provide affordable,
convenient and quality higher education opportunities to prospective students,
who were motivated to be self-directed learners but were constrained with time,
space, distance or adequate material resources to access the conventional class
meeting method”.
Professor Kwesi
Yankah, Minister of State in-charge of Tertiary Education, who was the
guest speaker, urged parents and guardians to buy into the Government’s
flagship programme – free Senior High School (SHS) Double-Track Policy.
He said the
educational benefits of the free SHS Double-Track Policy would go a long way to
cover all Ghanaians.
“The policy is
the way out, to take children off the streets and eventually enable them to be
admitted to universities like the UPSA and other tertiary institutions,”
he stated.
Dr Yossie Shevel, the
President of Galilee International Management Institute, Israel, who was the
guest of honour, said education plays a critical role in the socioeconomic
transformation of every nation.
He said the State of
Israel had advanced because of education; adding that, the world was changing
very fast, therefore, nations have to prepare themselves for it through
education.
GNA