The University for Development Studies (UDS) has held its 24th Congregation Ceremony at the Dungu campus in Tamale, the Northern region.
The University graduated a total of 4,399 students comprising 16 PhDs, 124 Masters, Post Graduate Diploma 15, and 4,242 undergraduates.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, at the graduation ceremony, indicated that the university has equipped the graduates with the best acknowledge and skills to lead the process of change in their various communities.
“ They were not only taught in their respective disciplines but they were also provided with the opportunity to apply the classroom knowledge and skills to identify the nature and causes of developmental challenges facing rural communities in Ghana and how to solve these challenges”.
According to him, UDS does not only produce students who think about practical solutions to rural challenges but also are concerned with how to enhance the socio-economic transformation of the country.
“ Our products in many ways contribute to national development, particularly in the areas of good governance, good security, poverty reduction, improved health conditions, and peace”.
He stated that the University for Development Studies (UDS) is committed to supporting the government’s strategy of building a modern industrialized economy through quality tertiary education.
The Vice-Chancellor of UDS, however, lamented about the lack of lecture halls, inadequate student accommodation, inadequate laboratories and laboratory equipment, lack of water supply, and increase of electricity tariffs among other challenges.
He urged the graduates to be good ambassadors of the university as they begin a new chapter in their lives.
“My dear Graduands, today is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new chapter in your lives, go out with a thankful heart with humility, and with a purpose-driven goal to serve mother Ghana”.
Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Acting Director-General of Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), said GTEC has set up the Accelerated Accreditation Committee as part of efforts to clear the backlog of unaccredited programs in their system.
“ This committee is working tirelessly and we hope to have a clean system of accreditation environment next year”.
He also indicated that GTEC has developed a new online processing software to deal with all accreditation issues.
A speech read by the Northern Regional Minister on behalf of the President of Ghana commended UDS for its aspiration to establish a law school and a campus in Yendi and reiterated the government’s commitment to quality University Education in Ghana.
Lambon M. Francis of Mechanical Engineering received the Overall Best Graduating Student for 2023 award.
BY Eric Kombat, Dungu