Matriculation ceremonies have been held for freshmen and women admitted into the University of Ghana’s Distance Education programme in the 2017/2018 academic year. The ceremonies were held concurrently in three regions; Accra, for students from the Tsito, Koforidua, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Tema and Accra Learning Centres; Kumasi for students from the Sunyani and Kumasi learning centers and Tamale for students from the Wa, Tamale and Bolgatanga learning centers.
For the 2017/2018 academic year, a total of 2,016 students enrolled on various programmes and at different levels under the Distance Education programme in Regional Learning Centres throughout the country.
The Vice- Chancellor, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, was represented at the ceremonies by Professor Kwame Offei; Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs in Tamale, Professor Francis Dodoo; Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research Innovation and Development in Kumasi, and Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Provost, College of Humanities, in Accra.
The Vice-Chancellor, in his address, indicated that in order to bring quality education to the doorstep of many more eligible students, the University plans to systematically upgrade Regional Learning Centres into campuses. Qualified applicants will be able to enroll at the various campuses as regular students, and enjoy the same services and facilities, which are available to students on the main campus. Also, the University is working on introducing a number of high demand programmes at the Masters’ level to be offered through the distance learning mode, at the Regional Learning Centre.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Distance Education programme has over the past few years, consistently moved from the use of paper-based teaching materials to the Sakai eLearning platform, which has significantly enhanced teaching and learning on the DE programme.
He indicated that the College of Education has commissioned a review of the distance education programme, in order to improve upon the system and offer better services to students. Currently, almost all students have revision and examinations at their Regional Learning Centres, so that students do not have to converge in Accra for these academic activities. Within the next two years, the old system will be completely phased out and all students will benefit from this system.
The Vice-Chancellor also noted that starting from the 2017/2018 academic year, the University had re-introduced admissions for mature candidates seeking to pursue undergraduate programmes through the distance mode. Mature applicants undergo an access course and examinations and successful applicants are offered admission to read various programmes. The reintroduction of admissions for mature applicants had led to a significant increase in admissions to the Distance Education programme, and the Vice-Chancellor urged qualified persons desirous of improving upon themselves academically, to sign up to take part in the access course in subsequent years.
The Vice-Chancellor urged students to strive for excellence in all that they do, particularly in their studies. He encouraged them to develop effective strategies for managing their time, to enable them balance the demands of time for study, leisure and work.
The Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel Ashia, speaking at the Accra ceremony, explained the significance of the matriculation ceremony, and later administered the matriculation oath. She was represented by Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, College Secretary, College of Education at the Tamale ceremony, and by Mrs. Cynthia Adu, Academic Officer of the College; at the ceremony in Kumasi.
On behalf of the matriculants; Mr. Michael Xornametor Dogbe in Accra; Ms. Ruth Korkor Darko in Kumasi and Ms. Evelyn Konadu in Tamale; spoke about their expectations of University life and symbolically signed the Matricula on behalf of their colleagues.