PROFILBARU.COM

University of Professional Studies
	University of Professional Studies logo
Former names	Institute of Professional Studies
Motto	"Scholarship with Professionalism"
Type	Public
Established	1965
Vice-Chancellor	Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey
Students	20,000
Location	Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana; 5°39′36″N 0°10′00″W / 5.659884°N 0.166614°W
Website	www.upsa.edu.gh

The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) formerly known as the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), is a public university in Ghana. The main campus is located in Accra.^[1] 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 ^[2] of Professional Studies to University of Professional Studies, Accra. UPSA is nationally and internationally accredited by the National Accreditation Board (Ghana) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), respectively.^[3]^[4]

It introduced the dual qualification scheme for its students ahead of the 2019/2020 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.^[5]^[6]

History

The university was founded in 1965 as a private professional ^[2] business education tuition provider and was taken over by government in 1978 by the Institute ^[2] 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 accounting, Management and other related areas of study by the Institute of Professional Studies Act, (Act 566), 1999.

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 ^[2] and post-graduate degrees in several programmes.^[7]

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).^[8]

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 explained the new policy at the 11th Congregation of the University. [1]

In September 2020, President Nana Akufo-Addo 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. 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.^[9]

Naming Hostel of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh

The event, hosted on the university campus, honored Dr. Prempeh’s visionary leadership as Minister for Education and his significant contributions to advancing infrastructure development in tertiary institutions.

Dr. Kofi Ohene Konadu, Chairman of the UPSA University Council, praised Dr. Prempeh for his outstanding contributions to the university's growth and development.^[10]

He specifically highlighted Dr. Prempeh’s key role in securing funding and overseeing the construction of the state-of-the-art facility, now named the “Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh Hostel.”^[10]

“During his tenure as Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh demonstrated unwavering dedication to expanding access to education and fostering a conducive learning environment. This hostel serves as a lasting symbol of his commitment to enhancing tertiary education infrastructure,” said Dr. Konadu.^[10]