Presby University to Start Graduate Programmes at Kumasi Campus

The Presbyterian University College is to start graduate programmes from the 2013/2014 academic year at the yet to open Kumasi Campus. Professor Kofi Sraku–Lartey, President of the University, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Abetifi on Wednesday.

He said three programmes, including Master of Science (MSC) and Master of Philosophy (MPHIL) in Management, Master of Science in Environmental Technology, and Master of Science in Computer Science had been earmarked for the start of the programme. Professor Sraku-Lartey said the University would run the programmes in collaboration with the Nagging University in China where students would spent one year of their course in Ghana and complete the second year in China.

He said preparation towards the start of the three graduate programmes had completed, adding that advertisement for admission would soon come out for qualified applicants to apply. Professor Sraku–Lartey said other programmes such as Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Actuarial Science with affiliation to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi would be added later.

He said the Kumasi campus would also run other undergraduate programmes such as Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant. Professor Sraku-Lartey said the university had already entered into contract with the Kumasi South Regional Hospital to train staff and also serve as practical training centre for students.

He said the Presbyterian University College would also establish a Medical School at its Agogo campus in the Asante-Akim North District. He said the College had already had extensive discussions with the Ghana Medical and Dental Council for the smooth take-off of the school. Prof Sraku-Lartey said the College currently ran a four-year Nursing and Physician Assistant programme with its pioneer students expected to graduate this year.

The College, which started in 2003 with 55 students, now has a population of 2,300 from all the West African countries. Professor Sraku-Lartey said contrary to the assertion that private universities offer only the social sciences/humanities, the University College, was seriously promoting the balanced pursuit of the humanities, the sciences, and the development, application and management of technology. It is thereby offering nine programmes, five of which are in the physical and applied sciences.

He said programmes at the University had been designed to provide a strong educational foundation in management, in the use of current Information and Communication Technology, mathematics and environmental studies for students. That he said would help students upon graduation to readily provide specialized skills at problem-solving in the business and scientific environment, set-up and run their own small businesses, or pursue graduate degrees in management studies.

The Presbyterian University College is a private university located at Abetifi-Kwahu in the Eastern Region. It was established by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on November 2003 and inaugurated on 27 March 2004 by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.