The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) and the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost the interests of the two institutions.
The partnership agreement, which covers a period of five years, is expected to promote business orientation and entrepreneurial spirit among students of the UPSA.
The collaboration includes the supply of a minimum of 3,000 copies of each edition of the Graphic Business newspaper to UPSA students for 12 weeks in a semester, and annual subscription to publications on the Graphic NewsPlus application by a minimum of 40 UPSA team members, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Director of Public Affairs, and Deans of the various faculties.
The UPSA in turn will promote brands of the nation’s premier news house, particularly the Graphic NewsPlus application, during the agreed period.
Signing
At a ceremony to sign the agreement at the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the UPSA last Tuesday, the leadership of the two institutions pledged their commitment to ensure that the union stood the test of time, as well as yielded the needed results.
Representing the UPSA were the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abednego F. Okoe Amartey; the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Kwaku M. Mawutor, and the Registrar, Dr Koryoe Anim-Wright.
The GCGL was represented by the Managing Director, Ato Afful; Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey, and Director, Marketing and Sales, Franklin Sowa.
Prof. Amartey said his outfit deemed it necessary to promote the culture of reading among the university’s students as part of the training and development processes to make them ready for the job market.
He mentioned that although the partnership started as far back as 2020, it was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, hence the need to revive it to harness its full benefits.
“We want to inculcate reading habit in our students. These days, they say the young ones don’t read, but we know there are good materials in Graphic, especially Graphic Business.
“From humble beginnings and where we are now, we seek to be at the very top in Africa and the world, and the way to do so is to insist that our students read, and there is no better way to do that than to have that relationship with Graphic,” he said.
He also praised the management of the GCGL for their sound leadership abilities, which, he said, had made the company the leading media house in the country.
“Graphic is growing bigger and bigger, especially under this management. So we saw Graphic, and we saw what they are doing, and decided that it is an institution that we want to have a relationship with.
“We have seen newspapers go and newspapers come, especially in this economy where everything has become foreign; it is refreshing to have an indigenous institution like Graphic that over the years, has served our grandfathers, our fathers, and still serving us. They will serve our children too,” Prof. Amartey said.
Infrastructural development
Mr Afful commended the management of the UPSA for the massive infrastructural development, which, he said, had transformed the university.
He stressed that the advancement made by the UPSA in infrastructure was a testament to the quality leadership and progressive approach of the institution.
“The massive infrastructural development under this current administration, led by the Vice-Chancellor tells you something that when you commit to purpose, you can get so far with it. That is the story of Graphic and the Graphic Business, which is actually pioneering this relationship with UPSA,” he said.
“We believe that as a brand and as an institution which develops professionals, we are best partners to make this work, and you don’t have to look further than a knowledge base that is curated by professionals and speaking to a body that is cultivating professionals,” he said.
Key studies
Mr Afful urged faculty members of the UPSA to collaborate with students to produce key studies which were locally referenced instead of focusing so much on referencing foreign businesses.
“The other thing that we have always noted was that faculty and students should collaborate to put some key studies out. You deal so much with professionals and students whom you are developing to be that next generation of professionals,” he said.
“I think that you need to bring that into the training and development of these young students that we are cultivating so that they are better prepared for that workplace that this institution is preparing them for,” he added.
He gave an assurance of GCGL’s unflinching support to ensure the partnership lives up to expectations.
“We thank you for this opportunity. We will commit to make sure that it works and this goes beyond just the Graphic Business.
We look forward to any other opportunity beyond this that we can partner to make this relationship worthwhile. Let’s make that UPSA-Graphic relationship stand out,” he said.
