Cape Coast, Dec. 18, GNA – Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Coast (UCC), has charged its graduates to use their influence, knowledge and skills to impact the world.
They must be agents of change in their communities, and look for cross-functional skills to become versatile and resilient to adapt to new changes, realising that the change they expected begins with them.
The Vice-Chancellor said this in a speech read on his behalf by Professor Dora Adu Buandoh, outgoing Pro Vice-Chancellor, at the fourth session of the 54th Congregation of UCC School of Graduate Studies, where 1,245 students graduated on Friday.
They included 14 PhDs, 76 MPhil, 10 MCom, 488 Medicine, 140 MBA, 219 MSc, and 241 MA.
The first to third sessions of the congregation, held on Thursday and Friday, registered a total of 5,074 graduates with degrees and diplomas.
They were graduates from the colleges of Humanities and Legal Studies, Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Health and Allied Sciences, and Education Studies.
Prof Boampong urged the graduates to uphold the reputation of the University, emphasising that; “We are proud of our legacy of integrity, quality and excellence bequeathed to our graduates of, which you are a beneficiary.”
He urged the graduates to exhibit a high level of dedication, accountability, integrity and honesty in all their professional careers to enhance their lot.
Also, they should take interest in supporting alumni activities and be best ambassadors of the University.
Highlighting some achievements of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof Boampong said the University was taking advantage of cutting-edge technology to revolutionalise thesis and dissertation processes and examinations.
The move sought to improve the graduation rate by allowing electronic submission of thesis and dissertation to replace the traditional system which required submission of hardbound copies by students.
He said the Graduates Studies Building Complex is expected to be completed early 2022, and it would be the largest investment in postgraduate education to facilitate teaching and learning.
The University has also introduced 15 new postgraduate programmes designed to meet contemporary needs for development and job market place.
Prof Boampong mentioned inadequate physical space for office accommodation, lecture theatre, poor road network and unstable internet connectivity as key challenges to postgraduate education in the University.
However, he was hopeful of a bright postgraduate education as the institution was committed to mobilising the appropriate human and material resources for maximum utilisation of available potentials.
“We shall continually strive to deepen postgraduate training and promote teaching, learning, research and creativity,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
GNA