The first cohort of 15 Master’s degree students was among a total of 265 who took part in the 16th graduation ceremony of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC) in Ho last Friday.
The fresh graduates from the School of Agriculture and Environment Sciences, School of Arts and Social Studies, School of Business and School of Graduate Studies were awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates.
The President of EPUC, Professor Tsatsu Adogla-Bessa, reminded the graduates that regardless of their awards, their successes in the real world would mostly depend on their attitude and integrity.
“Use the knowledge you have acquired at EPUC to further the interest of God, humanity, and your country,” he advised.
Prof. Adogla-Bessa further said the degree signified a responsibility to uphold the values of truth, honesty, hard work, discipline, and togetherness.
He pointed out that the contemporary world needed ethical, innovative and compassionate leaders and urged them to rise to the occasion.
The EPUC President touched on enrolment and said the university college currently had 883 students, comprising 573 continuing students and 260 fresh students at the Ho campus.
Meanwhile, at the Greenhills Seminary Campus, 24 students were enrolled this year to join 30 continuing students, bringing the total number to 54, he said.
Funding
Prof. Adogla-Bessa said the major challenge facing EPUC was insufficient funding, resulting in irregular payment of salaries and allowances, indebtedness of the university college to the present and past staff, part-time lectures and regulatory bodies, in the wake of inadequate infrastructure and working tools.
“The severe financial constraints of the university college continue to negatively restrict the operations of the institution, and it is becoming more and more difficult to sustain normal work,” he revealed.
Prof. Adogla-Bessa appealed to all stakeholders to help lift EPUC out of what he described as its current financial pit, as it stepped up its campaign to launch new programmes to increase enrolment and raise funds to maintain its operations.
He also called on the E.P. Church, Ghana (EPCG) and the entire membership of the church not to relent in their effort to see EPUC through the difficult times.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of EPUC, Dr George Afeti, said unlike the public universities which received annual subventions from the government to support their capital expenditure, salary payments and operational expenses, EPUC did not receive any such direct funding support.
“The university cannot depend solely on students’ fees to finance its operations,” he explained.
Dr Afeti affirmed the council’s stance to continue addressing the major issues confronting EPUC, in particular, the funding constraints, with a view to finding a lasting solution to them, in collaboration with EPUC, the founder and owner of the university college.
