SOGS Students Handbook
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UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, ACCRA HANDBOOK FOR THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES (SOGS ) 2020 1 Table of Contents Chapter One: Message from the Dean ----------------------------------------------5 Chapter Two: General information about the University -------------------------6 Chapter Three: Administrative Structure of the University ---------------------16 Chapter Four: Graduate Programmes and Descriptions --------------------------31 Chapter Five: Admissions, Grading System & Graduation ---------------------138 Chapter Six: Examination Regulations --------------------------------------------144 Chapter Seven: Resources and Facilities ------------------------------------------161 Chapter Eight: Students’ Affairs ----------------------------------------------------165 List Acronyms UPSA University of Professional Studies, Accra SEP Self Evaluation Process CIMA –UK Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – United Kingdom ICAG Institute of Chartered Accountants- Ghana ACCA –UK Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – United Kingdom ICSA –UK Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators – United Kingdom CIM –UK Chartered Institute of Marketing – United Kingdom JBR Journal of Business Research NAB National Accreditation Board NABPTEX National Board for Professional and Technician Examination 2 THE ARMS OF THE UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL STUDIES ACCRA (UPSA) The emblem was developed in 1975 as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the University. A call was made for interested students to submit artworks that could be adopted as an emblem for the school. Three students inspired by their experiences at the University and the challenges of studying to achieve their goals of becoming businesses professionals settled on the above artwork. The design depicts an adapted version of a Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol called Akoben meaning the “Horn of War”. This symbol which is the blue artistic work in the heart of the emblem symbolizes vigilance and wariness. For these students, life itself is a personal responsibility and a battle which can be won only by one’s own attention, cautiousness, and hard work along with support from one’s environment. The base signifies one’s circumstances, context, and support from the society which unfolds as life rolls out. For them, even though society supports and shapes one’s life, life’s outcomes are a reflection of one’s choices, actions, and attitudes. Life therefore means taking responsibility to find right answers to the many challenges. Everyone therefore has the responsibility to create their own world and could have it right if their attitude towards the numerous questions posed by life at any given time is right. In recent times, the emblem symbolizes UPSA core values of Responsibility, Creativity, Accountability, Continuous Improvement, Principle of Character Development, and the Tenets of Professionalism. The tenets of professionalism emphasize the application of acquired knowledge within its ethical confines to the benefit of society in the spirit of service to humanity as the ultimate purpose of life. This message is summarized by the motto “Scholarship with professionalism.” The emblem further affirms a set of values that links UPSA’s proud legacy with its vision for the future and its anthem captioned the “Star of Hope,” just as our history reminds us of the generations that have built UPSA, it also presents us with the responsibility for future generations which is to build a vibrant University, that will shape the future of our community and the world. 3 SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES (SOGS), UPSA THE ARMS OF SOGS The Arm is Blue shield with stairs leading to an open book at its pinnacle. The stairway symbolizes the gradual systematic progression towards the book, which symbolizes knowledge through lifelong learning. 4 CHAPTER ONE WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Welcome to the School of Graduate Studies (SOGS) of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). It is so refreshing to introduce you to our unique professional tradition that thrives on combining scholarship with professionalism. Expressively, our programmes are not only designed to meet the growing demand in the business industry but also aimed at equipping prospective students with the requisite skills and expertise to manage contemporary business challenges in Accountancy, Management, Marketing, Governance, and Auditing as well as Leadership, in both public and private sectors globally. Our vision is to become a leading centre of research and a world-class graduate school of management/accountancy. The School of Graduate Studies operates in a rigorous academic environment and demands high standard of scholarship and professionalism from its students. To achieve this, the School has assembled some of the best faculty with both professional and academic qualifications and enormous experience in the corporate world of business. Our main focus is in teaching and research, to help our students pursue their dreams in both the academic and professional fields. It is worthy to note that the School has expanded its programmes from four (4) to thirteen (13) since its inception in 2009. Within a space of eight years, the number of student enrolment increased from 160 to 1,056, comprising a considerable number of international students from both Anglophone and Francophone countries. Currently, approximately 8% of the overall students at UPSA are registered at the School of Graduate Studies, and over 16% of degrees awarded annually are granted from the over nine (9) programmes at SOGS. The high student enrolment and graduation ratio is a reflection of our quest to design pragmatic programmes relevant to the needs of individuals and the business environment. As a school of scholars, we actively participate in community service and also encourage our students in the same direction. I invite you to visit our website and learn about our unique programmes and exciting faculty. You may also visit our beautiful campus and interact with faculty and staff, as well as students from all walks of life. 5 CHAPTER TWO GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, ACCRA, AND THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES 1.0 GENERAL INFORMAITON AND CONTACT DETAILS OF THE UNIVERSITY Name of Institution University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Postal Address P.O. Box LG 149, Accra Location North East of Legon on the main IPS Road Contact Person The Registrar School of Graduate Studies Contacts The Dean of Graduate School Telephone Numbers +233243287242, + 23320199507, +233 302 500722, +233 302 500171, +233 302 500723 Fax Number +233 302 501174 University E-mail [email protected] Graduate School Email [email protected] Website www.upsa.edu.gh Year Established 1965 Legal Instrument University of Professional Studies Act (2012), Act 950 Accreditation and Recognition Accredited by National Accreditation Board (NAB)/ Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programmes (ACBSP). Presidential Charter, conferring on it the right to award its own degrees, recognized tuition provider for national and international business professional programmes. Recognition: Member of the International Association of Universities (IAU), Association of African Universities (AAU), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) 6 1.1.0 Establishment of the University The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) was founded in 1965 as a private institution and was taken over by the Government of Ghana in 1978 (SMC 200). It was subsequently established as a tertiary institution with a mandate to provide Business Professional Education in the academic disciplines of accountancy and management by the University of Professional Studies Act, 1999 (Act 566). In the year 2005, the University gained accreditation and introduced undergraduate degree programmes in Marketing, Accounting, and Business Administration. Banking and Finance was introduced in 2007 to augment the existing portfolio of business professional courses for which UPSA has been a trail-blazer. Owing to the University’s quality of output and compliance with set national standards, the University gained its Presidential Charter in September 2008. By this Charter, the University attained a full-fledged University status with the power to award its own Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates. The Parliament of Ghana on 31st July, 2012 passed a bill for the change of name from “Institute of Professional Studies, (IPS)” to “University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)”. The bill was granted presidential assent on 9th October, 2012 and that ushered in the University of Professional Studies Act, 2012 Act 850. The University is currently Ghana’s only public institution that offers undergraduate, masters’ degree, and diploma programmes and tuition for internationally recognised and acclaimed Business Professional Programmes. In 2013, the University introduced Information Technology Management programme at both undergraduate degree and diploma levels. The University also runs the following masters’ degree programmes: MSc. in Auditing, Marketing, Corporate Governance, Accounting & Finance; MSc. & MPhil in Leadership; MBA in Total Quality Management, Internal Auditing and Petroleum Finance & Accounting. In this respect, the University continues to play a leading role in the teaching and practice of Accountancy and Management in Ghana. The combination of scholarship and professionalism is the foundation of the University’s