UPSA Graduates 1,314 Students at 18th Congregation

The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), on Wednesday held the third session of its 18th Congregation at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium, where 1,314 students from the Faculty of Management Studies graduated. Various awards were presented to students who excelled.

The cohort comprised 1,009 undergraduate degree recipients and 305 diploma recipients. They form part of the 5,120 students expected to graduate across the University’s 18th Congregation sessions.

In his report, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, urged the new graduates to uphold integrity and accountability while pursuing continuous learning to remain relevant in a changing professional environment. “Let integrity and accountability guide you as you step into the next chapter of your lives,” he said.

He encouraged the graduates to harness emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), responsibly while exercising independent judgement.

He further urged them to remain curious, adaptable and committed to developing their knowledge and skills, and to build professional reputations grounded in competence, integrity and service.

The Special Guest of Honour, Managing Director of Appointed Time Limited, Jacqueline Afful, urged the graduates to pair desire with discipline, direction and character in order to succeed in the world of work.

She said graduation marks the end of a long journey that began with excitement upon receiving admission letters, particularly for those who got their desired courses.

According to her, one of the most powerful forces in human life is desire, and every graduate has a dream they desire to achieve, but the critical question is how many are willing to go through the process to achieve it.

On corporate sustainability in Ghana, Mrs. Afful said one of the fears of most organisations is how to transcend generations, a challenge she linked to the attitude of young graduates towards hard work.

Recounting an experience in her company, she said 10 National Service Personnel who served in 2025, when asked about their career aspirations and which department they would like to join if retained, all chose Human Resources, including those who studied Marketing.

When asked why they were not interested in marketing, a field they studied and served in, she said they responded that marketers suffer too much because of constant pressure over targets during management and performance reviews. “At this time, we all want to do HR," she quoted them as saying, adding that the company eventually had to let go of the graduates.

Mrs. Afful said the incident illustrates a simple truth: "In this world, it is those who want to go the extra mile, those who want to do the hard work, who can achieve success. “She told the graduates that while they have earned their degrees and some have already started their national service or dream jobs, the degree may not necessarily be the path of their future growth. She noted that it is normal to change career paths, as long as one is still driven by desire, but cautioned that desire must have discipline and direction.

She reminded them that the world is big enough for everyone and that UPSA has equipped them to either seek employment or come together to form their own organisations.

She warned that there will be financial difficulties and stiff competition, but urged them to be determined to do more and go the extra mile. “Go out there and be champions of your profession,” she charged the graduates.