On Monday 21st September, 2020, Lancaster University Ghana celebrated its first virtual graduation ceremony for their fourth undergraduate graduating cohort. This ceremony was held online and presided over by Lancaster’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield.

Lancaster University Ghana (LUG) is a partnership between Lancaster University (LU) and Transnational Academic Group Ghana (TAG Ghana). LUG provides a world class degree in Ghana delivered by exceptional academic staff, with outstanding student support, scholarships, and a family friendly experience. It is the only UK university branch campus delivering a British degree in sub-Saharan Africa. LUG has a distinctive approach to education focused on developing a creative approach to problem solving, an ethic of service, and the ability to meet the very considerable career challenges that lie ahead for them.

For over 50 years Lancaster University has been providing higher education to students across the world. Out of over 120 UK Universities, Lancaster University is consistently ranked in the top ten on the three major national league tables. The University was named International University of the Year by the Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. It also received the UK government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award for outstanding learning environment and delivering excellent employment outcomes for our students. This is the highest possible rating a university can achieve.

Since its inauguration in 2013, LUG has grown from 67 students, to over 500 students, with now over 400 alumni from the campus in Accra. LUG offers the same high quality Lancaster degree right here in Accra. Students also have the opportunity to participate in many exchange programmes throughout their academic journey. Alumni have gone on to further study in countries such including Mauritius, the UK, the USA and others, or to work in industry sectors including telecommunication, education, banking and finance and oil and gas, with a number of them having started their own businesses after graduation.

At this year’s virtual graduation, the university awarded ninety seven (97) students Bachelor’s Degrees in the following courses: Economics and International Relations, Politics and International Relations, Accounting and Finance, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Marketing and Law. This cohort is one of the university’s most diverse graduating classes to date, with students from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Togo, Sierra Leone, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Lebanon and Switzerland. This cohort completed their third and final term, and final exams completely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making them a very unique and exceptional batch of students to achieve this milestone against all odds.

Degrees were conferred by the Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, Professor Andy Schofield, who said “Today we celebrate each of your achievements in proving that you have the resilience as well as the intelligence to rise to a challenge. The degree you have earned from this University is a passport - should you choose to use it - to a lifetime of opportunity.” The Vice-Chancellor told the LUG Graduates “You are our greatest ambassadors and amongst you there are the people who will shape and lead tomorrow’s societies. I am sure you will make us all proud of what you achieve, but I hope you feel that your degree and time with us will have helped you achieve that. Our hope is that, wherever your future takes you, you will continue to represent your alma mater by becoming engaged in your local communities, helping us build our reputation as a world-leading institution and changing the world for the better”

During the CEO’s Address, Mr Chris Pilgrim, CEO of Transnational Academic Group Ghana told the graduates “Your nations and the continent are resource rich; you are riding on a wave of unprecedented population growth; innovation and technology are creating disruption and opportunity; and you are smart, determined, and persistent. The time is now for you to bring to bear your new found knowledge, your entrepreneurial spirit, your ingenuity, your persistence, and your fearlessness. Each of you has a rare opportunity to shape Africa’s future, and so go out there and do just that.”
At the ceremony, special awards were presented to outstanding students for their academic achievements. The Chancellor’s Medal was awarded to Oluwatofunmi Precious Temowo (BSc Hons Computer Science), for being the most meritorious students in the cohort. In addition, The Founders’ Award, which recognises the students who best embody the values of TAG (Loyalty, Integrity, Attitude, Competence and Commitment), and has demonstrated this throughout their time at the University, was presented to Princess Portia Naa Lamiley Mills. The Lancaster Award, which acknowledges students’ extracurricular activities which enhance employability was also presented to six students.

LUG offers a Foundation programme, Undergraduate programmes, and the two-year part-time Executive MBA, and is still accepting applications for their October 2020 and January 2021 intakes. For more information about Lancaster University Ghana, visit www.lancaster.edu.gh or call +233 (0) 30 274 7700.