{
  "id": 1541123,
  "title": "University of Gold Coast graduates urged to prove themselves beyond certificates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/university-of-gold-coast-graduates-urged-to-prove-themselves-beyond",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T18:51:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/university-of-gold-coast-graduates-urged-to-prove-themselves-beyond-certificates/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The University of Gold Coast has urged its recent graduates to go beyond merely possessing academic certificates and to demonstrate discipline, integrity, determination, and a robust work ethic. This advice was given on Saturday during the university's inaugural graduation ceremony since attaining full charter status. For the first time, graduates received certificates in the name of the University of Gold Coast, rather than under its former mentor institution, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).\n\nProfessor Pikay Richardson, Chairman of the University's Governing Council, emphasized that while certificates can open doors to opportunities, it is the ability to deliver results that ultimately determines success. He warned that even with a certificate, one may fail to deliver. He encouraged graduates to cultivate the necessary discipline, determination, and attitude to translate their academic knowledge into meaningful results in the workplace.\n\nVice-Chancellor Gideon Titi-Ofei highlighted the university's positioning as a center for research, innovation, and technology-driven learning. He noted that the university integrates industry professionals and academics, offering students both practical experience and research opportunities. The university's seamless technology integration from application to graduation was also emphasized.\n\nThe ceremony marked a significant milestone in the university's development, with graduating class Isaac Mensah attributing his academic success to determination and the flexible learning approach. The graduation also signified a new chapter for the university as it begins a new phase following its attainment of full charter status. This milestone grants the institution greater autonomy, including the authority to award its own degrees and set its academic and research priorities. With expanded postgraduate programs and a strong emphasis on technology, research, and industry-focused learning, the university aims to strengthen its position within Ghana's higher education sector. For the graduates, the ceremony signified the beginning of a new phase rather than the end of their academic journey, with the university leadership stressing that a certificate may open the door, but discipline, hard work, and the ability to deliver will determine the graduates' success.",
  "summary": "The University of Gold Coast has challenged its graduates to look beyond their academic certificates and distinguish themselves through discipline, integrity, determination and a strong work ethic. The call was made on Saturday during the university’s first graduation ceremony since it attained full charter status, marking a major milestone in its development as an autonomous university. For the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}