The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has awarded 31 scholarships to students pursuing various degree programmes under its Vice-Chancellor Endowment Fund (VCEF).

The awardees include 11 renewed previous applicants and 20 first-time applicants. The scholarship covers full-tuition for the 2019/20 academic year and beneficiaries are eligible for reapplication based on their academic performances within the stipulated period.

This year’s figure brings to a total of 51 recipients to have benefited from the scheme since its establishment in 2017. The VCEF seeks to support brilliant but financially-challenged fresh and continuing students with scholarships at the university. 

Speaking at a brief ceremony on Wednesday, October 2, to announce the 2019 beneficiaries, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the UPSA, Professor Charles Barnor, urged the recipients to reciprocate the kind gesture shown them by the University by identifying areas they could, in turn, support the development of the institution and their communities as a whole.

“Today, you have had the opportunity to be given this scholarship but it also brings an additional responsibility on you. Not only must you maintain or improve upon your academic performance; but ask yourself, what are you also going to contribute to the development of this university and the community you live,” he said.

Professor Charles Barnor

Pof Barnor, further said the university through its VCEF initiative was marginally contributing to poverty alleviation in the country. He explained that students who hitherto would have been pushed out of higher education due to dire financial needs can now have some respite in the VCEF.       

The Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, in  explaining the selection process said the selection of candidates was carried out in a fair and transparent manner taking cognizance of gender, educational level and choice of programme by the student.

Applicants were also taken through rigorous interviews while due diligence were  performed on their backgrounds, academic claims and financial status. 

Dr Ibrahim Mohammed

 Dr Mohammed further disclosed that the committee received over 50 applications, out of which, 31 were awarded scholarships – This he said represented over 60 per cent in-take – the highest by any scholarship scheme according to him.

A Board Member of the VCEF, Professor Nana Owusu-Frimpong, who also doubled as the Chairperson for the awards ceremony, reechoed the importance of the fund.

He said: “the introduction of the Vice-Chancellor Endowment Fund has had positive impact on beneficiaries. During the 11^th Congregation of the university last academic year, one of the beneficiaries was adjudged the best graduating student from the Faculty of Management and I am reliably informed that there are quite a few more in line to overturning that feat this year. These are some of the impact we are making on our students.”

Professor Nana Owusu-Frimpong

Last year, a total of 20 students benefited from the scheme and the management of the university has announced its willingness to increase the number to 55 as the institution commemorate its 55th anniversary next year.

Click here for the full list of the awardees

About the VCEF 

The Vice-Chancellor Endowment Fund is an investment fund established by the University through the brainchild of the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey.

The fund receives third-party donations as well as contributions from the university community with the sole objective of supporting brilliant but financially-challenged fresh and continuing students through the provision of scholarships tenable for training in any programme at the university.

The fund since its establishment in 2017 has awarded over 50 students with full-tuition scholarships.