Australian High Commission awards scholarship to 26 students

Accra, Feb. 7, GNA - The Australian High Commission has awarded scholarship to 26 Ghanaian students, under its development programme for th= e country, to pursue Masters Programme in Australia. The scholarship programme, which was initiated this year, was expected to provide brilliant students the opportunity to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.

Mr William Williams, Australian High Commissioner announced this durin= g a courtesy call on him in Accra by students of the University College of Management Studies (UCOMS). UCOMS aims at establishing partnership with the commission and also present the Semi-Finalist Plaque and Medals won by the university in the 2010 SIFE World Cup Competition in the US.

The visit also served as a platform for the university to highlights some of its achievements.

Mr Williams said the scholarship initiative reflected the partnership and deep rooted relations that existed between the two countries. He said about 1,000 people across Africa would benefit from the programme every year.

Mr Williams noted that Australia was committed to broaden and deepen engagements with Africa across a spectrum of issues including enhanced trad= e and commercial investments, strengthening of diplomatic links and increased development assistance. Professor Nana Pecku, Rector of UCOM listed some of the achievements o= f the academic facility to include the SIFE award. He said the university in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth and Sports had developed the first Ghana Students' Initiative Programme Competition to reward innovative and talented individuals with impressive entrepreneurial skills.

"This has empowered students' entrepreneurs with the necessary ski= lls to transform their shared opportunities, business concepts into business plans with emphasis on governance, marketing and financial plans," he sai= d. Prof Pecku said UCOMS had initiated a Business in Prison Programme to apply business, economic and entrepreneurial approach as a discipline in th= e Ghana Prisons Reformation Policy.

"With our entrepreneurship handbook, UCOMS have trained 150 prison officers at the Senior Correctional Centre (SCC)." He added that the university had employed computer games, puzzles and football games to inspire hope and re-enforce ethical values of honesty among 302 young inmates at the SCC. He commended Australia for its immense contribution towards education in Ghana.