The Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) held its 15th Graduation Ceremony on the 27th of November, 2021 at the Ramseyer Training Centre Auditorium, Abetifi-Kwahu.
A total of 586 students comprising 324 males representing 55.3 percent and 262 females representing 44.7 percent graduated at the ceremony.
The breakdown of the number of students who graduated according to the Faculties are as follows: Faculty of Law 32, Faculty of Science and Technology 54, Faculty of Development Studies 48, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences 288, Faculty of Education 13 and School of Business Administration 151.
In the various class divisions, 83 out of the 586 students made First Class, 275 and 216 students made Second Class Upper and Lower Divisions respectively while there was no student who made a Pass. Only 12 students made Third Class.
At the 15th Graduation Ceremony, the University presented the first batch of the LL.B students from the Faculty of Law. Twenty-five of these students wrote the Ghana Law School entrance examinations, out of which sixteen, representing more than 50 percent passed the examination. A feat highly commendable.
The theme
Speaking on the theme, “Thriving in Adversity: Lifelong lessons from a pandemic,” the outgoing President of PUCG, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng said, the pandemic has shed a bright light on the value of institutions of higher education and has, ironically, created many opportunities for colleges and universities to facilitate change.
The President of PUCG, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng addressing the 15th Graduation Ceremony
Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng posited that the pandemic has succeeded in exposing the world of serious challenges underpinning the educational systems and the need to reform to meet the basic objective of education which is to develop spacious thinking in the younger generations.
Government support
The President of PUCG is therefore advocating government support for tertiary institutions particularly private tertiary institutions to help them play their significant role after the devastating effect of the pandemic.
According to him, the government must investment in ICT Infrastructure in the country and in all educational institutions; oversee the robust training of lecturers in online teaching and examinations; formulate appropriate policies that will guide, support and direct tertiary institutions and research, and increase Investment and Policy Support to tertiary institutions, especially the private non-for-profit institutions.
A section of the graduands at the ceremony
“I wish to note that any support from industry, and government to tertiary institutions must cater for both public as well as private universities”, he said.
He deplored lack of government support to the private tertiary education sector stating “The current practice where private universities are cut off from any government support from even a common fund like GETFund needs to be reconsidered. Several calls have been made for this but they seem to fall on deaf ears.”
Message to the Graduands
Congratulating the Graduands for successful completion of their programmes in such challenging times, Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng admonished them to be resilient and creative, and network amongst themselves, linking their ideas, strength, small resources and connections together to start off small businesses.
The President wished them successful careers and implored them to be steadfast in their beliefs and put God and their countries first in their endeavours.
Special Awards
The following persons were given special awards:
The Chancellor’s Award for the overall Best Graduating Student went to Grace Asantewaa Koranteng from the Department of Business Administration.
Ms. Grace Asantewaa Koranteng delivering her valedictory speech at the 15th Graduation Ceremony
The President’s Award for the 2nd Best Graduating Student went to Aunice Kpede Axelle Ahoudji from the Department of Business Economics. She was also awarded the Registrar’s Award for the Best Graduating International Student.
Aunice Kpede taking one of her awards from Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng