The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) formerly known as Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), is a public university in

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

. The main campus is located in

Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...

. UPSA is the first university in Ghana to provide both academic and business professional education. The ''University of Professional Studies Act, 2012 (Act 850)'' changed the name of the Institute of Professional Studies to University of Professional Studies, Accra. UPSA is nationally and internationally accredited by the

National Accreditation Board (Ghana) The National Accreditation Board (NAB) of Ghana is the Government of Ghana agency responsible for the regulation, supervision and accreditation of tertiary institutions in Ghana. It is an agency under the Ministry of Education. Establishments T ...

and the

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), formerly the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, is a U.S. organization offering accreditation services to business programs focused on teaching and learni ...

(ACBSP) respectively. It introduced the dual qualification scheme for its students ahead of the 2019/20 academic year. With this new system, the students will be required to complete a chartered program such as the ACCA, ICAG, CIM, CIMA, ICSA and others, by the end of their degree study to better enhance their chances of employment in the job market.

History

The university was founded in 1965 as a private professional business education tuition provider and was taken over by government in 1978 by the Institute of Professional Studies Decree, 1978 (SMCD 200). It was subsequently established as a tertiary institution with a mandate to provide tertiary and professional education in Accountancy, Management and other related areas of study by the Institute of Professional Studies Act, (Act 566), 1999. Upsa main block

The then IPS had been offering tuition for business professional programmes. In September 2005, the then institute introduced Bachelor’s degree programmes to give meaning to the IPS Act 566. It received a Presidential Charter in September 2008, conferring on it the status of a fully-fledged public university. The University offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in several programmes. The development of the programmes coupled with trends in tertiary education at both local and international levels called for an amendment of the existing Act 566 of 1999. Subsequently, the University of Professional Studies Act, 2012 (ACT 850) was enacted to rename the institute as University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). UPSA has recently introduced “dual qualification scheme” for student for the 2019/2020 academic year. The policy is to make students who enroll in a degree programme to simultaneously and compulsorily pursue a corresponding professional programme such as ACCA, ICAG, CIM, CIMA, ICSA among others as an additional course thus graduating with both a degree and a chartered certificate. Vice-Chancellor, Professor

Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, (born July 26, 1967) is a Ghanaian academic who is currently the Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana. He is a professor in Management. Early life and education Amartey had his se ...

explained the new policy at th
11th Congregation
of the University

In September 2020, President

Nana Akufo-Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ( ; born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 7 January 2017. In 2020, he was re-elected for his second term, which will end on 6 January 2025. Akufo-Addo previously ...

commissioned a 500-seat capacity artificial stadium (AstroTurf) in UPSA. The sod for the stadium was cut in July 2019 and constructed by

Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited Wembley () is a large suburbIn British English, "suburb" often refers to the secondary urban centres of a city. Wembley is not a suburb in the American sense, i.e. a single-family residential area outside of the city itself. in north-west Londo ...

. Aside the artificial football pitch, the facility houses spectator stands with a VIP area, changing rooms, washrooms, storage spaces, flood lighting and Sports Directorate offices for the University. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the facility is accessible for use by the community.

Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Prof

2016- (current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies) Prof

Joshua Alabi Joshua Alabi (born 1 March 1958) is a Ghanaian academic and politician, who served as the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) from 2012 to 2016. He previously served as the Rector of the same institution ...

2012-2016 (1st Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies)

Programmes

Undergraduate Programmes

* Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations Management * Bachelor of Science in Accounting * Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance * Bachelor of Science in Business Economics * Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science * Bachelor of Business Administration * Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management * Bachelor of Science in Marketing * Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management and Finance * 4-Year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) * 3-Year Post First Degree Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Diplomas

* Diploma in Accounting * Diploma in Marketing * Diploma in Management * Diploma in Public Relations Management * Diploma in Information Technology Management

Professional programmes

*Association Of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) UK. *Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) *Chartered Institute Of Marketing, (CIM) UK. *Chartered Institute Of Management Accountants (CIMA) UK *Institute Of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) UK

Post Graduate Programmes

* Master of Philosophy in Finance * Master of Philosophy in Leadership * Master of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance * Master of Business Administration in Auditing * Master of Business Administration in Corporate Governance * Master of Business Administration in Internal Auditing * Master of Business Administration in Marketing * Master of Business Administration in Petroleum Accounting and Finance * Master of Business Administration in Total Quality Management * Master of Science in Leadership

Notable alumni

Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II Osei Tutu II (born Nana Barima Kwaku Duah; 6 May 1950) is the 16th Asantehene, enstooled on 26 April 1999.Albert Kan-Dapaah Albert Kan-Dapaah (born 14 March 1953) is a Ghanaian chartered accountant and politician. He is currently the Minister of National Security. He was appointed by President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo on 10 January 2017. Early life and educa ...

Ernest Henry Norgbey Ernest Henry Norgbey is a Ghanaian politician who has served as Member of Parliament for the Ashaiman constituency in the Greater Accra Region since 2017. He is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Early life and education N ...

Stonebwoy Livingstone Etse Satekla (born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician. He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 201 ...

Eric Oduro Osae Eric Oduro Osae is a Ghanaian local governance expert, lawyer and chartered accountant who serves as the Director General of the internal audit agency of Ghana. He is the technical director to the Ministry of local Governance and Rural Developmen ...

Xabier Pikaza Xabier Pikaza Ibarrondo (born 12 June 1941 in Orozko, Spain) is a Spanish theologian of Liberation Theology and professor at Pontifical University of Salamanca. He is one of the most renowned Spanish theologians of his time. Life He entered t ...

Camidoh Raphael Camidoh Kofi Attachie (born 21 January 1994) known by the stage name Camidoh is a Ghanaian Afropop, R&B and Afrobeats songwriter and musician. Early life and education Camidoh was born in Aflao in the Volta Region of Ghana and raised ...

References

Sources

External links

National Accreditation BoardUniversity of Professional Studies homepageUPSA 11th Congregation
{{DEFAULTSORT:University of Professional Studies Universities in Ghana Education in Accra Educational institutions established in 1965 1965 establishments in Ghana