UCC chancellor advises graduates

Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. Sir Sam Esson Jonah, has advised university graduates, especially those from UCC, not to add up to the unemployed graduates phenomenon that has become a canker and burden on the shoulders of government.

Instead he advised them to make use of the entrepreneurial spirit imbibed in them by the university to rise above societal norms and create value for themselves, family and country as a whole.

The Chancellor gave the advice during the fifth session of the 48th congregation of the university in Cape Coast over the weekend.

Dr. Sir Jonah encouraged graduates not to give up although they may not find ready employment waiting for them, and tasked them to strive to create their own employment since their training has sharpened their minds as future business leaders.

“Government does not have enough resources to meet the unlimited needs of the populace so it is up to you (graduands) to make good use of attributes such as self-determination, hunger, passion, humility, self-balance, teamwork, out of the box thinking and curiosity among others that the university has instilled in you to succeed,” he said.

He also advised them to avoid opportunities to instant success but rather work hard to help build Ghana.

For his part, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Domwini Dabire Kuupole, announced that 1,915 students were graduating after fulfilling all requirements for the award of respective higher degrees with 31 from the university’s partner institution, Organisation Capacity Improvement Consultants (OCIC).

He revealed that graduate admission for the 2014/2015 academic year was 2520 with a total enrolment of 4870 students representing 7.6% of the university’s total enrolment.

He added that the university mounted 241 graduate programmes for the 2014/2015 academic year with 11 including MPhil/PhD in Drug Discovery and Toxicology, Mphil/PhD in African Studies, Mphil/PhD in International Studies, Mphil/ PhD in Home Economics and Mphil in Infection and Immunity being entirely new which are still receiving attention from the National Council of Tertiary Education and National Accreditation Board.

Prof. Kuupole indicated that the university was improving its ambience for promotion of academic and social life to be able to attract and train more graduate students for nation building.

He also pointed out that GRASAG-UCC Endowment Fund has been established with GHC72,000 to support graduate students research and appealed for the establishment of a graduate school building complex to solve the major deficiency of limited space for the school.