Need to invest in human capital - Vice Chancellor

Professor Donwini Dabire Kuupole, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, on Saturday called for continuous investment in human capital development to help sustain a healthy economic growth and a sound social system.

Prof Kuupole said human capital development should be all embracing to cover acquiring scientific and technological knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, and imbibe good values and ethics and organisational culture.

Making the call at the fifth congregation of Jayee University College in Accra, he said, education and training constituted the core process in developing the knowledge of individuals.

The ceremony was on the theme: “26 Years of Human Capital Development: The Way Forward”

He said higher educational institutions must lay a solid foundation for teaching, learning, and research that would lead to the needed job creation and productivity growth, through greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Prof Kuupole said human capital was directly related to human development and when there was human development, the qualitative and quantitative progress of a nation was inevitable, adding that in India, the rate of human capital foundation had increased after independence due to qualitative improvement in each generation.

He said it was not sufficient to create human capital, but also manage and maintain it as well as transform and constantly upgrade skills of the human resource to meet the new requirements of the knowledge economy.

Prof Kuupole urged management of the University to continue to invest in the creation of human capital to unearth potential human resource in acquiring better and sustained organisational performance.

Mr John Emmanuel Donkoh, President and Founder of Jayee University College, said 421 students, comprising 320 females and 101 males were to be awarded various diplomas and degrees.

The graduating students comprised 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 batches. A total of 343 graduands received diplomas, and 78 received first degrees.

Mr Donkoh noted that human capacity building referred to investing in the education and training of people to increase ‘life-chances’ and their ability to effectively participate in the social, economic and political processes.

He said the University had produced 50,000 graduates since its establishment, who were contributing meaningfully to the country’s manpower development.

Mr Donkoh said it had commenced work on the construction of the University College’s main campus in Cape Coast, and as part of its corporate social responsibilities, gave financial assistance to 17 students to pursue higher education.

Awards were presented to deserving students and staff who distinguished themselves in the field of their disciplines.