UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
BY: Gideon K. Adu
The 9th Matriculation Ceremony for the 2024–2025 students was held at the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies (MITDS) main campus in Yikene, Bolgatanga. Fifteen PhD candidates and one Mphil student applied for the program in Culture and Development Studies, making up the matriculants.
Prof. David Millar, the university president, stated in a speech that the occasion signifies the start of the ninth academic year of the institution.
He stated that there are some basic issues and motivations that need to be clarified so that everyone understands its meaning and what the school stands for. Some of these issues include the meaning of the institutions logo (Chameleon), the motto of the institution, why trans-disciplinarity, and why an Open University system.
According to his explanations, the Chameleon is the only creation that considers the past, the present, and the future before making a deliberate move. Even with its 360-degree rotating eyeball, the Chameleon nevertheless moves with extreme precision. “He said.”
“Finding African solutions to African Challenges” is the university’s motto, he added, and it serves as a reminder to everyone that Africans can and should solve their own problems by addressing their own concerns. In this way, the university has positioned itself to help address these issues and decide to instil in each student a distinct identity known as African Personality and, consequently, Pan Africanism, which is an essential component of university studies.
Regarding the topic of trans-disciplinarity, he stated that it transcends the limits of disciplines and, as a result, by thinking and acting creatively, we push scholarship beyond the ordinary and into the realm of culture and spirituality.
Regarding the Open University system, he cited the 2006 report on Tertiary Education in Ghana by Prof. Anamoah Mensah, in which he urged Ghanaian universities to abandon their conventional on-campus, satellite campuses, and distance learning models in favor of Open University systems. According to him, MITDS is the first entirely Ghanaian organization working to address the clear request of this report that was approved by the Ghanaian government. He went on to say that the Open University system makes it even easier for local experts, or indigenous experts, to participate in higher education processes. The university is also prepared to remove the constraints of traditional classrooms and move toward a more virtual environment.
He reminded the students that the official acceptance of participation in the University Community is symbolized by the initiation rite known as matriculation. He asked the students to sign the Matriculation Register, which is a must without exception, and to further solidify this acceptance by taking a matriculation oath.
He also warned students that exams are a crucial part of their education at the institution and that failing to take any exams without cause or without written consent will result in the appropriate sanctions. He also said that the institution will enforce its policies and take harsh measures against any student who cheats on an exam.
As an Open University, he said, the institution is dedicated to working with well-meaning NGOs and CSOs to improve ICT-based education and offer high-quality community service in order to increase access to best practices both domestically and globally. He once more fervently urged the Ghanaian government and the GETFund to help the university through these early phases of development by providing additional academic facilities including ICT services, a library/classroom, and an administration block.
In his remarks, Mr. Daniel Janamah Duut, President of GRASSAG, said that the ceremony signifies the start of an exciting and life-changing journey as a member of an organization that prioritizes knowledge, innovation, and impact-driven research.
He exhorts his colleague students to embrace inquiry, question conventional wisdom, work together in meaningful ways, make use of the resources at their disposal, form networks, and actively participate in the advancement of academia and society.
At GRASAG, we’re dedicated to creating a welcoming and thought-provoking atmosphere. “You will have the opportunity to access a variety of government initiatives and programs that are intended to support your academic and professional development as students of the institution,” he continued.
Seize these chances, he continued, as they will not only improve your educational experience but also get you ready for the workforce and allow you to contribute significantly to the advancement of the country.
He added that the government’s policies that facilitate distant learning and advance access to higher education particularly excite them as an open institution.
Faculty of Culture and Development, Faculty of Indigenous Innovation and Communication Studies, and Faculty of Endogenous Education and Lifelong Learning are among the new faculties that the university has established.
