12th Congregation Speech

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4889″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]SPEECH BY DR. OSEI K. DARKWA, PRESIDENT, GHANA TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE AT THE 12^TH CONGREGATION CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2015.

GTUC Council Members Present

Our Guest Speaker

Representative of the Vice Chancellor, KNUST

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Coventry University, UK, Mr. David George Soutter

Representative from CASS Europe

Representative from Staffordshire University, UK

Representative from Anhalt University, Germany

Distinguished Guests GTUC Faculty and Staff present, Proud Family members Friends of Graduands, Graduands, Friends from the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Welcome

It is a pleasure to re-echo the words of the Chairman of the University Council in welcoming all of you to the 12^th Congregation ceremony of our University College. I wish to extend a special hand of welcome to our Guest Speaker, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah and representatives of our partner institutions who are here to grace the occasion. We are greatly honoured by your presence.

May I also extend a hand of welcome to our graduands who having gone through the stipulated period of their studies and satisfied the conditions for graduation at the undergraduate and graduate levels and are gathered here to receive their honours.

Dear Graduands, it has been years of hard work and perseverance. Today we are all gathered here to witness and recognize these long years of hard work. To our old students who are here to support friends and dear ones, you are most welcome back to your alma mater.

This year’s congregation is made even more special as we have students graduate from the 1-year MBA programme that we run Staffordshire University. It is yet another step to consolidate our contribution to the development of education in Ghana and internationally. We are proud to confer on them and their colleagues the honour that they deserve.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, another special feature of our celebration is the presentation of special awards to deserving students. These special awards are presented in recognition to students whose performance over the years has been outstanding

 

Introduction

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Congregation is usually a special occasion in the life of a University. It is a joyous occasion especially for graduands and their relatives; having worked hard and persevered for several years and are deservedly being awarded with their honours. For the University, it is a time for self-assessment and self-renewal; a time for the University to reflect on its mission and vision and to take stock and report to its stakeholders and the general public at large on its achievements and challenges.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me at this point to present a few highlights about GTUC over the period and articulate some of the concerns of the University College.

 

Delivery of Quality Technology Oriented Education

GTUC is mindful of its unique role and the challenges it faces in its efforts to deliver quality technology education for knowledge development and innovation in this country. The increased student numbers for access to tertiary education puts a lot of pressure on public universities hence the need for private participation. To compliments governments efforts, GTUC has established network campuses in five out of ten regions in Ghana which is fifty percent coverage. The University College has also established sub-regional learning centres in Togo and Gabon.

The question this poses is: How have we achieved all these within nine (9) years. We believe in partnership and collaboration. This helps us to deliver unique and industry relevant programmes and that is our selling point.

The University has over the years been increasing enrolments to enable it turn out as IT and Business fit for the job market and continues to give learning opportunities to individuals to upgrade themselves to provide quality technology oriented education. The deliveries of these specialized courses are through the Centre for Professional Development (CPD) and the Centre for Technical Education and Training (CTET).

Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen, GTUC recognizes the intrinsic role that the nation’s professional play in the development process and is therefore committed to ensure that graduates really prepare for the job market either to work on their own or work for institution to contribute to the human resource base of the country.

 

Resourcing the University College

As part of efforts to enable the University respond to new challenges and achieve its developmental goals, a lot of restructuring has been undertaken during the year.

Part of the restructuring has got to do with recruitment of new Deans for the three faculties that run our undergraduate programmes to ensure maximum efficiency. We are also in the process of setting up a satellite campus at Nungua in the Greater Accra region. The facility which was acquired last year is about 75% complete. It will have lecture hall, hostel facility, offices for administrative staff and faculty and a cafeteria for staff and students. It is anticipated that the campus will enhance accessibility for potential students within the Nungua-Tema area and ultimately increase presence and enrollment.

 

Collaboration and Partnership

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the University continued to consolidate partnership programmes with a number of national and International institutions as a way of building capacity and making its programmes relevant and in tune with both internal and global developments. The major ones are the following:

• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST), Ghana

• Alborg University, Denmark
• Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
• Coventry University, United Kingdom
• MS Ramaiah University, India
• Staffordshire University, United Kingdom

 

Acknowledgement

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to acknowledge with gratitude the support the university has received from individuals and organizations. I cannot mention all of them but I will like to single out the following for special gratitude.

• First we thank the our partners for their continuing support to the university

• We acknowledge the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) for assisting the university with fund for our solar project and other technology transfer initiatives during the last academic year. The solar project has resulted in the development of a curriculum material for training in Solar PV Systems and training of almost a thousand individuals in the area of building,maintaining, as well as the effective and efficient use of solar systems.

• GTUC would also want to thank the Indian High Commission, Ghana for the support and readiness to open its doors to us for diplomatic services, offers for scholarship and consultancy services provided.

• DataVoice Networks Systems is an IT Support Service provider which cannot be left out from the list for their immense in helping us to get solutions to some of our IT challenges. Their reliability and quality of service is unmatched.

• Last but not the least, we want to show our profound gratitude to our friends at the Ghana Police Depot who have been our dependable neighbours. Your support over the years has included offering of some amenities for use by GTUC, provision of security services and advice.

 

Appreciation to Staff

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I will like to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifice of our hardworking academic and administrative staff who have offered their service with commitment and resilience in spite of the challenges we face. You are the real unseen heroes of the higher education system. They have stayed to keep the wheels of the institution moving. I salute you all and may God bless you.

 

Word to Graduates

To my dear graduands, take a cue from and be guided by the University’s crest. The principal motif of the University crest, the Adinkra symbol ‘Nea onnim no sua a, ohu’ is a Ghanaian Cultural Symbol, that explain the need for constant knowledge acquisition as the essential ingredient of education. “He who does not know can know from learning” (or knowledge comes from learning). This is a traditional African symbol representing knowledge, life-long education and continued quest for new ideas.

I entreat you to always remember that the essence of the message to you today is to go into the corners of this country to inspire and motivate. Your dedication and commitment to whatever you find yourselves doing after school is very important since it is your contribution to the development of Ghana. You have gone through a period of training that qualifies you to be awarded a certificate. Note that the completion of your programme marks the beginning of your service to the nation and to humanity. We believe that graduates from GTUC can achieve excellence through hard work and service to others as represented in our core values. It is these virtues we have tried to inculcate in you during your period of study here at GTUC.

Albert Einstein once said, “Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible”. Pursue your dreams no matter how weird they might seem to others. Commit to your vision and the drive to succeed. You shall surely make it.

The world you inherit presents you with great challenges. We are agents of change, whether we want it or not. You have the greatest opportunity in generations: to be the architects and builders of a new world. You belong to a small group who have been equipped to take up this daunting role. You may exercise it wherever you stand but it goes beyond having a job in a company or any other organization. It means responsibility to society. You will not just be a part of a big machine, but will be a node in a vibrant network of engaged individuals.

Your status in society has changed; opportunities will come to you and we urge you to take advantage and make a difference. The society’s expectation will be greater and we challenge you to rise to the occasion.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Ghana Technology University College has potential and I am very optimistic about the future. However, there are few challenges. Several initiatives, projects and programmes have been hampered due to lack of funds. Worthy of mention are the library, laboratories, hostel project, just to mention a few.

To step up our fund raising efforts, the University College is embarking on a fundraising campaign to support its programmes and projects. The Campaign targets individuals, corporate organisations and philanthropists who will donate to this worthy cause.

There is the need to raise funds to expand our programmes and projects. Funds to improve on our physical presence in terms of infrastructure and the quality of service. I therefore use this opportunity to solicit for support from individuals, Corporate Ghana and philanthropists to be able to deliver on pending projects and programmes.

Graduates, please don’t forget your alma mater when the good times come, as they will. Contribute substantially in kind and in cash so this institution can continue to evolve into one you can be proud of. I extend a personal invitation to all of you to register online at Alumnee.in/gtuc on our alumni portal right from this function.

On behalf of the University and on my own behalf, I congratulate all of you.

Ayekoo.

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