Ashesi University College will receive its Presidential Charter before the close of year 2016.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made the announcement to the Ashesi community at the University’s 2016 Graduation Ceremony.
“I am so delighted to announce today that the interim assessment report that we have cited from the National Accreditation Board, points to one fact,” he said. “That fact, is that for a certainty, before the year 2016 ends, Ashesi University is going to receive its Presidential Charter! This is a feat worth celebrating.”
In Ghana, every newly established university has to operate for a minimum of 10 years under the supervision of relatively older, established universities which will award degrees on the new university’s behalf.
Universities that have been mentored for the minimum number of years can then apply for independence, a process which ends with a comprehensive assessment of the institution, its programmes, facilities and finances being presented to the Minister of Education for onward recommendation to the President of Ghana.
When an application is approved by the President, he then grants that institution a Charter, which enables it to award its own degrees, diplomas and certificates. A Charter is also a sign of recognition that a university has consistently met quality check and requirements, and no longer needs to be directly supervised.
“Ashesi University has broken myths.”
Congratulating the University for this achievement, the Deputy Minister of Education indicated that Ashesi was a university that deserved praise and support for defying odds and stereotypes to become globally recognised.
“For many decades and centuries, it had been believed that for a university to be of exceptional quality and high standards, that university must be a public university,” he explained. “Ashesi University broke that myth. Then it was also believed that for a university to make the global impact that Ashesi is making, that university had to be centuries old before you can begin to gain recognition. Once again, Ashesi University has defied that narrative.”
Nearly 2,000 families, friends, students and alumni were at the graduation ceremony, which is the 12th in Ashesi’s history. Guest speaker at the Ceremony was Lucy Quist, CEO of Airtel Ghana, who also shared her respect for Ashesi and its graduates.
“At Airtel Ghana we have developed an outstanding reputation for exceptional corporate social responsibility (CSR),” she told the audience gathered. “We have won awards both locally and internationally for making a difference in people’s lives where it matters; in education, healthcare and the environment. One young lady, [an Ashesi graduate], has spearheaded our efforts. She brings her unique approach as she leads our delivery. Maame, who many of you have read about, stands out from the crowd!”
Other guests of honour at the ceremony included the Chief of Berekuso, Nana Oteng Korankye II, the Head of Corporate Business at Old Mutual Ghana, which is providing scholarships to students at Ashesi, Sosthenes Konutsey, and the Managing Director of Unibank Ghana, which has also provided support to Ashesi, Felix Nyarko-Pong. In all, 144 graduates were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science, Business Administration and Management Information Systems. 30% of the class graduated with academic honours, a record high for graduating classes at Ashesi.
Ashesi is a private, non-profit liberal arts and sciences university which was started in 2002. The University offers four-year bachelor of science programmes grounded in a liberal core curriculum, featuring degrees in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Read more about the Commencement ceremony on Ashesi’s website, ashesi.edu.gh.
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Source: Ashesi