The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole has implored the graduating class of 2013 to develop a vision that will challenge the status quo and bring positive transformation to society.
Prof. Kuupole noted that society expect them to apply their acquired rich knowledge to help solve the challenges confronting the country and charged them, “Be a transformational graduate and do not go where the path may lead, go instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.”
The Vice-Chancellor made this admonition at the 46th Congregation at the New Examinations Centre, North Campus.
On academic work, the Vice-Chancellor noted that UCC would continue to introduce programmes that would prepare its graduates to respond to current developmental challenges in the Ghanaian economy. He disclosed that the University had also introduced M.Sc in Disaster Management, M.Sc Land Policy & Administration and Diploma in Transport and Road Safety Management programes for the 2012/2013 Sandwich session. Some of the programmes to be introduced include BSc. Agro-Processing, Post graduate programme in Community Mental Health, M.Phil in Environmental Sciences, M.Phil/ Ph.D in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that a research fund had been created to offer adequate support to Faculties and Departments to enhance their research work. He used the opportunity to express gratitude firstly to the Chancellor, Dr. Sam Esoun Jonah for pledging an amount of $50, 000 to support the research fund and also the Chairman of the UCC Sam Jonah Endowment Fund, Nana for providing seed money for the fund.
The Minister for Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang in a speech read on her behalf by the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education, Prof. Mahama Duwiejua observed that universities as centres of concentrated brain power must drive the process of transforming the economy of the country to a knowledge-driven economy. He therefore commended UCC for the commitment and the competence of discharging its responsibilities to the generations of students passing through the walls of the university.
The overall best graduating student, Mr. Joseph Issah Winyam, in a valedictory address admitted that though the academic journey was very challenging, the graduates had gained rich knowledge and skills to become useful members in the society.
In all, 3,891 students graduated with 253 attaining first class, 1,521 second class upper, 1,337 second class lower, 597 third class and 183 passes.
