The University of Gold Coast has launched the Gold Coast Society of Doctoral Fellows as part of efforts to strengthen research and prepare scholars to contribute to Ghana’s development.
The initiative comes as the university matriculates 105 students into its inaugural PhD in Business Administration programme, with Chancellor Bishop Dr Gideon Tito-Offei urging Ghana to place greater emphasis on higher education, research and the development of national expertise.
He made the call during the university’s matriculation ceremony on October 24, challenging the students to apply their education to address the country’s development needs.
“We place a responsibility to every scholar in this room; let your education become useful to your nation,” he said.
‘Ghana’s gold mine is the Ghanaian mind’
In an address titled From Natural Resources to National Resourcefulness, Bishop Tito-Offei urged the country to look beyond its mineral wealth and invest in the knowledge, character and competence needed to build productive businesses and drive national development.
“Ghana’s gold mine is the Ghanaian mind,” he said.
His remarks emphasised the importance of developing human capital and strengthening research as part of efforts to translate Ghana’s potential into sustainable economic progress.
105 students admitted to inaugural PhD programme
The university matriculated 105 students into its inaugural PhD in Business Administration programme on October 24.
The three-year programme offers five specialisations: accounting and finance; human resource management; marketing and communications; leadership and governance; and strategic management.
Director of the PhD programme, Dr Winnifred Coleman, said it was designed to provide students with rigorous academic training and equip them with the skills needed to contribute to national development.
Some students also expressed optimism that the programme would strengthen their research, leadership and professional skills.
The university expects the programme to build students’ research capacity and prepare them to apply their expertise to Ghana’s development challenges.