Produce graduates with right mindset to survive job market — Prof. Obeng-Ofori

The Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG), Professor Daniels Obeng-Ofori, has underscored the need for universities to produce graduates with an entrepreneurial mindset to survive on the job market.

He said the global job market had become more technological, innovative and competitive, presenting a minimal chance of survival for graduates without skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Prof. Obeng-Ofori was speaking at the 23rd graduation and 34th matriculation ceremony of CUG at Fiapre in the Sunyani West Municipality in the Bono Region last Saturday.

"With these complexities, I urge you to be prepared to take up new roles and responsibilities while demonstrating ingenuity in your career development if you are to meet the demands of the future workforce," he said.

In all, 1,236 graduates made up of 837 undergrads and 399 postgraduates graduated from the CUG while 1,745 students matriculated.

Belinda Bawa was adjudged the Overall Best graduating student and best graduating female student. 

The CUG currently has a student population of 5,843, with 211 teaching and non-teaching staff.

Programmes

Prof. Obeng-Ofori said CUG would continue to develop innovative and demand-driven academic programmes, including PhD, MPhil and Law Faculty to increase student numbers and meet the needs of industry and the national developmental agenda.

He said the CUG had established an Ethical Review Board to review research involving human subjects to ensure projects were ethical.

Prof. Obeng-Ofori said the board would evaluate the methods, risks and benefits, as well as protect the welfare, rights and privacy of the human participants.

He said the Quality Assurance Unit of the university had been upgraded into a directorate and resourced to play a more critical role after the grant of the Presidential Charter.

The VC said CUG had recognised that building a knowledgeable and skilled human resource without morals was a danger to society because they would eventually become educated devils.

"That is why CUG values courses that sharpen students’ moral consciousness such as Philosophy, Social Ethics, Catholic Social Teaching and Interfaith Encounters and Religious Dialogue.

These are very dear to the institution and they are mandatory for all students.

"We must build good characters for mother Ghana," Prof. Obeng-Ofori said.

He said the University had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with several universities to improve research, attract grants, build partnerships in infrastructural development projects and transfer knowledge through international collaborations for staff and student exchange programmes.

Prof. Obeng-Ofori advised the matriculants to plan and manage their time well and gave much attention to their academic activities for successful completion.

He also encouraged the graduands to pursue their education in order not to be left behind in the rapidly changing world.

Prof. Obeng-Ofori expressed the need for the University to improve the conditions of service of staff to reduce the attrition rate.

For his part, the Vice President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), Most Reverend Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum, expressed concern about moral decadence as the root cause of many of Ghana's current challenges.

He mentioned the destructive practice of galamsey and the controversial topic of LGBTQ rights in the country as some of the country’s pressing issues.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh