KNUST began its 45th Congregation on Monday, 20th June, 2011 with the presentation of certificates to the first set of graduands. They included 383 in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and 392 others in the College of Architecture and Planning.
Out of the 775 who graduated from the two Colleges, 50 obtained First Class, 429 had Second Class (Upper Division) and 252 obtained Second Class (Lower Divisions). Those with Pass were just 44.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Chancellor of KNUST presided over the programme. The week long programme climaxes on Saturday, 25th June, 2011 with a break on Thursday, 23rd June.
According to the Chancellor, higher education is universally acclaimed as the key to the growth of the nation. He therefore advised graduands to be courageous, honest, compassionate, sincere and supportive to the nation building. He mentioned the occasion was also a time for the University to take stock of the work done through the years.
In his report, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor William Otoo Ellis said that in the 60 years of its existence, KNUST has trained more than seventy thousand (70,000) men and women with quality skills in several fields of disciplines such as art, agriculture, natural resource management, engineering, architecture, planning, mathematics, chemistry, optometry, pharmacy, medicine, law, nursing and business administration among others. For these efforts, the Vice-Chancellor said the University prides itself as the centre of excellence for high quality science and technology education in Africa.
He reported of the new programmes to be mounted. First was a 4-year PhD programme in Soil Science for 20 foreign and local students to begin next academic year. The research-oriented programme, he said, will help solve basic crop and soil problems to improve food security and the lives of farmers. Again, the Department of Architecture will introduce a Master of Architecture programme to replace the current Post-graduate Diploma programme. He added that, plans are also underway to construct an auditorium for the College of Architecture and Planning.
According to Professor Ellis, the Faculty of Forest Resources Technology in Sunyani will soon become the University for Energy and Natural Resources. In view of this, he said KNUST was proud of its parental role to be nurturing another University.
He advised the graduands not to allow the challenges of life to surmount them, but should rather seize such opportunities to maximize their potentials. He expressed gratitude to the entire University staff and families of the graduands for their contributions in diverse ways towards the education of the graduands.
Earlier in a valedictory speech, Mr. Kwadwo Boakye Boadu the best graduating student in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, on behalf of the graduands acknowledged their lecturers and families for the immense contribution towards their university education. Whilst emphasising the importance of good ethics in all their endeavours, he charged his fellow graduands to become of agents of change in our societies by exhibiting the true values of KNUST wherever they would find themselves.
The motivational speaker for the session, Mr. Frank Tackie told the graduands that the door of success has been shown to them but they would have to find the key to open it. He assured the graduands that, with their diverse educational backgrounds, opportunities await them. He advised the graduands to set targets for and challenge themselves with further studies to broaden their horizons. He concluded by urging them never to compromise on their integrity.
