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The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has officially launched a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy and Leadership, alongside three new Applied Statistics programmes as part of its strategic drive to strengthen leadership, data-driven decision-making and national development.
The three new programmes — Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistics, MPhil in Applied Statistics and MSc in Applied Statistics — were launched at a ceremony held last Thursday at the Professional Christian Union Building on campus.
The PhD programme is designed as a four-year course divided into two main components: coursework and research.
The first-year focuses on coursework, while the remaining years are devoted to comprehensive examinations, proposal development and supervised research leading to the submission of a thesis.
Mode of delivery combines compulsory in-person sessions with weekend classes to accommodate working professionals, who make up between 80 and 90 per cent of UPSA’s doctoral students.
The brief launch ceremony was attended by representatives from Parliament, the Office of the President, regulatory bodies, development partners, industry players, students and prospective applicants.
Speaking at the launch, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, described the introduction of the programmes as a major milestone in the university’s growth and contribution to Ghana and Africa’s development agenda.
In declaring the programmes officially launched, the Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed UPSA’s vision to produce graduates who would shape public discourse, lead institutions wisely, solve data-driven challenges and contribute meaningfully to Ghana, Africa, and the global community.
He noted that UPSA had expanded significantly since its early years, growing from three undergraduate and three postgraduate programmes in 2005 to a total of 69 academic programmes today, a testament to the institution’s resilience, foresight and responsiveness to societal needs.
Prof. Mawutor explained that the PhD in Public Policy and Leadership was developed in direct response to the practical needs of governance and policymaking in Ghana.
“We will emphasise advanced analytical and functional applications at the Master’s level, while deepening research expertise and preparing candidates for doctoral studies and high-level research careers.
"In the next few years, UPSA will mount its first PhD in Applied Statistics.
This vertical integration, from undergraduate to doctoral-level research capacity within related domains, creates a powerful academic ecosystem and reinforces the university’s expansion from three programmes to the current 69 programmes,” he said.
He revealed that the programme was specifically designed with Members of Parliament and senior public sector leaders in mind, following engagements with Parliament and lessons drawn from UPSA’s existing postgraduate programmes run for the Ministry of National Security.
“We all know that Ghana’s development agenda—from economic transformation and digitalisation to public sector reform and social protection—demands research-driven solutions. Africa’s story equally requires intellectual leadership and technical competence.
"We can, therefore, assure all stakeholders that these programmes will be delivered with rigorous academic standards, strong industry and government partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration, international research engagement and a firm ethical foundation,” he said.
The Director of Doctoral Programmes, Prof. Raymond Dziwornu, explained that the Office of Doctoral Programmes, established six years ago, served as a central coordinating unit to ensure that all PhD programmes across faculties were well-organised, effectively managed and aligned with regulatory standards.
He reaffirmed UPSA’s readiness to deliver a well-structured and credible doctoral programme aimed at producing high-level scholars and policy leaders.
