By Kodjo Adams
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has launched a new accounting software to equip students with practical skills and support financial reporting for companies.
The software, christened: “UNIVAS360,” was developed with support from the staff and students of the University and expected to be implemented within the next academic calendar.
The initiative forms part of efforts to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional accounting practice.
Professor John K.M. Mawutor, the Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, announced this at the University’s Innovation Day in Accra on Friday.
It was on the theme: “Turning Innovation into Enterprise and Policy to Contribute to National Development.”
Prof Mawutor expressed appreciation to the various stakeholders for supporting the initiative and sharing in the institution’s success story.
The initiative, he noted, would give students an opportunity to apply accounting principles in real-world settings.
“Students are expected to receive training on the software as part of their normal classroom work before being tasked to use their knowledge to prepare financial statements for SMEs,” he said.
He said the students would be provided with free versions of the software to enable them to offer accounting and consultancy services to businesses without the university taking a share of their earnings.
That, he stated, was to encourage students to move beyond theoretical knowledge and contribute to transformation within the business community.
“I want you to go out there and cause that structural transformation,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
The platform forms part of UPSA’s broader efforts to strengthen practical learning and deepen collaboration between academia and industry.
The University organised an interdisciplinary research business pitch competition in which 16 student teams and faculty pitched technology-enabled solutions to real Ghanaian problems before a panel of judges and an audience of industry.
Mr Laryea Larrey Ayi, a Bachelor of Science student in IT Management with the name SMARTFIN, emerged as the winner of the competition.
His concept was leveraging technologies to improve financial literacy and tax compliance.
Team GRAIT Intelligence came second and developed an application for making digital income visible.
Team Search buddy followed third and developed an AI-assisted search tool for African learning management systems.
Addressing the students after the competition, the Vice-Chancellor announced plans to expand its graduation celebrations to recognize not only academic excellence but also outstanding student entrepreneurship and business achievements.
Prof Mawutor said the initiative was to encourage students to establish viable businesses before completing their studies.
He said the institution would monitor the progress of the projects, help students further develop their ideas and, where possible, connect them with investors.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Kodjo Adams [email protected]