The Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) has held its 17th matriculation ceremony to formally admit 614 students into the University for the 2019/2020 academic year.
The total figure of 614 comprises 352 males and 262 females. This translates into a male-female ratio of 57.3; 42.7. The University places priority on gender parity issues in its admissions.
Matriculation Oath
Addressing the Matriculants, the President of PUCG, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng said the Matriculation Oath taken by the students binds them to observe the rules and regulations of the University.
The Oath also binds the students to obey the President and other Officials of the University, to apply themselves diligently to their studies, to seek knowledge and truth, and to promote the general good of the University.
Moreover, the oath binds the University, Management and Staff to seek the welfare of the students during the duration of their studies.
New programmes
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng disclosed that the University has introduced one graduate and two undergraduate programmes namely, MSc. Financial Risk Management; BSc. International Development; and BSc. Computer Engineering.
This brings the total undergraduate programmes to 17 while the postgraduate offerings have also moved to five 5 programmes.
The University has applied for and also received accreditation from the National Board for Professional and Technical Examinations (NABPTEX) to run the following Higher National Diploma (HND) and Diploma programmes starting January, 2020: HND Information Management and Technology; HND Events Management; Diploma in Business Administration; and Diploma in Public Relations. HND Media and Mass Communication programme is currently going through accreditation.
In addition to these, the University is working on other programmes which are currently going through affiliation processes. These include Doctor of Optometry, B.Sc. Midwifery and Master of Public Health for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at Asante Akyem (Agogo), and M.Phil. in Educational Studies for the Faculty of Education at Akuapem – Akropong.
Government Intervention
The President of PUCG implored the Government to see through the policy to give students with D7 in some core subjects who wish to offer programmes in the Humanities where Mathematics is not required.
He believes this will give hope to many applicants who have aggregates twenty-four or less but with D7 in any of the Core subjects, are unable to access tertiary education
GARNET Project
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng announced that with approval from the University Council, the PUCG is joining the Ghanaian Academic and Research Network (GARNET), which is a National Research and Education Network.
This will allow the Presbyterian University College, Ghana to upgrade its Internet bandwidth from 18 megabits on Vodafone Ghana to 155 megabits per second to support smooth running of academic and administrative activities of the University.
Advice to Matriculants
“Let me inform you that you have made the right and an informed choice by applying and gaining admission into PUCG. At PUCG, we train the Head, the Hands and the Heart. We are in the business of moulding young men and women into whole beings,” the President said.
He continued, “your studies here will not only make you academically prepared for the world of work but will develop you into holistic individuals who will be useful to their employers, their fellow human beings, the society, yourselves and your Maker.”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng said the University intends to do this by ensuring that its core values of Faith in God, Integrity, Commitment, Discipline, and Excellence permeate whatever we do, noting that “These are values that will make you Disciplined Leaders as well as Channels of Change in your chosen fields.”
He admonished the students to uphold high standards of performance both in internal and external examinations, public competitions and quizzes set by their predecessors and they cannot afford to bring down these standards.
Integrity in Examinations
Touching on the integrity of Examinations in the University, Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng said examinations are a major part of the University’s activities.
He disclosed that the University is currently working towards a situation where its students will develop self-control and self-respect to the extent that students will write examinations without the presence of invigilators.
“We know this is achievable, in fact, we experimented this during the last examinations organised for the graduate students, and it was successful,” he said.
He therefore implored and encouraged the students to support the initiative by comporting themselves during examinations, admonishing them to eschew all forms of cheating during examinations saying the University will not countenance it in any form.
Sexual Misconduct
The President of PUCG said that the University does not condone any form of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment of any kind on the University’s campuses.
“We take sexual misconduct and sexual harassment to include any unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other verbal or physical conducts of sexual nature especially when such actions give a student an advantage over others in terms of marks and other privileges,” he reiterated.
He said students should have the courage to call for redress as no student will be victimized should such a case be reported. “We do not allow sexually transmitted grades here,” Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng cautioned.
Dress Code
The President of PUCG said students are expected to dress with decorum and decency. Moreover, they must dress appropriately to all formal University events/functions including but not limited to, lectures and other official gatherings and events.
LLB Students
The President implored the Law students to concentrate on their primary objective of coming to PUCG Faculty of Law, which is to study for their LLB certificate with the aim of being admitted to the Ghana School of Law and eventually to be called to the Ghana Bar.
Gratitude
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng expressed gratitude to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for the Church’s support to develop a university with a world-wide acclaim.
He thanked the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat–the District Level Scholarship for the 2019/2020 academic year, for awarding scholarship worth GH₵207,256.56 to seventy-four (74) students pursuing various undergraduate programmes in the University.
The President also thanked Hon. Bryan Acheampong, Mr. Fred Odame Asiedu and the Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd for their support to students through scholarship awards.
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng expressed appreciation to parents and guardians for choosing PUCG for their wards.
“We are conscious of your desire for PUCG to make a positive difference in the lives of your children and wards. We wish to assure you that the University will not only impart book knowledge to them, but also knowledge that bestows on the individual, the desire to live out Christian ethics,” the President said.