The University for Development Studies (UDS) has graduated 3,712 students at its 17 congregation.
The graduands pursued various courses at the Tamale city, Nyankpala, Wa and Navrongo campuses.
They were awarded Diploma and Degree certificates from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Graduate School, School of Business and Law, Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences among others.
The UDS Governing Council Chairman, Professor Stephen Kendie admonished the graduands to serve as peace Ambassadors in their localities as the December 7 polls draw closer.
He advised the youth to desist from overly subscribing to social media at the expense of their academic excellence.
According to Professor Stephen Kendie, social media abuse is affecting the grammar of most students in tertiary institutions.
He underscored the need for senior high school graduates to pursue agriculture and Information and Communication Technology courses at the tertiary stage.
Professor Kwesi Botchwey in a speech read on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama commended the UDS for offering courses designed for solving community based problems.
He implored the university authority to make available students research reports to civil society organizations and development partners working in Ghana.
“I urge MMDAs in Northern Ghana to liaise with authorities of the UDS to see how they can make good use of research work in order to bring about the needed development to their people.”
Professor Kwesi Botchwey challenged the graduands to serve as agents of change in their communities.
The UDS vice Chancellor, Professor Gabriel Ayum-Teye announced the establishment of distance learning centres at Yendi, Tamale, Bimbila and Sawla.
He said the newly established School of Engineering has mounted courses such as Bsc Waste Water Management, Bsc Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Bsc Farm Power and Machine Engineering, Bsc Mechanical Engineering, Bsc Irrigation and Drainage Engineering.
“The school has been given approval by the National Council for Tertiary Education while the courses are awaiting accreditation by the National Accreditation Board.”
Professor Gabriel Ayum-Teye disclosed that the UDS offers MPhil/PhD Chemical Pathology, MPil/PhD Applied Statistics, Master in Public Health, MSC Community Disaster Resilience Studies, Bsc Pediatric Nursing, Bsc Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, MPhil Biodiversity Conservation and Management and MPhil Forest Resources Management.
He posited that his administration considered teacher motivation as a major priority.
“106 staff are currently on full time study leave with pay while 117 are either on part-time, sandwich or distance programmes.”
“In the 2015/2016 academic year, a total of 62 staff comprising 33 senior members, 25 senior staff and four junior staff were granted study leave and out of this number 29 are on full-time, 23 on part-time and three on sandwich.”
The University for Development Studies was established in 1992 as a multi-campus tertiary institution.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings established the UDS to make university education accessible to students in Northern Ghana.
It has so far produced brilliant scholars including medical Doctors serving the nation’s health facilities.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
