The 12th Congregation of Regional Maritime University, for the accolade of Degrees and Diploma as well as prizes to outstanding students and staffs was held on Saturday, 9th June, 2018, at 9:00 am at the University’s parade ground. A total of three hundred and thirteen (313) students graduated, made up of 246 undergraduate and 67 Diploma students.
12th Congregation
The Ceremony began with the academic procession of dignitaries and Staff. Present at the ceremony was the Chancellor and Board Chairman Hon. Dr. James F. Kollie who for the first time was presiding over the graduation after assuming office.
In an address delivered by, Dr. Kollie, the Chancellor of RMU, commended Management of the University for the major progress in the areas of infrastructure development and collaborations with other Maritime Institutions. To the newly introduced under-graduate programmes and post-graduate programmes, the Chancellor challenged the general public to take advantage of the facilities and programmes of RMU to educate themselves. Assuredly, the Chancellor continued that the University would soon enter into collaboration with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority of Liberia to train seafarers in the International Maritime Organisation’s mandatory courses. This collaboration, according to the Chancellor, would be to the advantage of RMU graduates.
In a keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Elvis Nyarko, called on the graduands to uphold high moral standards and saturate the environment in which they would live and work with the spirit of service, enterprise, and integrity. The VC, whilst thanking the Government of Ghana for the laudable initiative of the Free Senior High School Policy, also expressed that the University in anticipation of absorbing increased qualified applicants had plans underway to expand its facilities. He therefore appealed to the Government of Ghana to assist the University to continue to expand its facilities including the Administration and library complex project and the Auditorium project to be able to cater for the increasing number of qualified applicants.
On the University’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, he extended an invitation to all alumni and the general public to the year-long celebration from June, 2018 to June 2019. Activities lined up to commemorate the 60th Anniversary include Public Lectures, Alumni Homecoming, Award of Honorary Doctorate degrees, Job Fairs and a Grand Durbar.
The Vice Provost of Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), China, Prof. A Yan, on the occasion of the 12th congregation, applauded all graduands for successfully completing their courses of study. To the BLM (B.Sc. Logistics Management) students, she counselled them to carry on the knowledge acquired from SMU and make use of that in their world of work.
Inauguration of REDAVIA
The inauguration of the REDAVIA, a German Solar Power manufacturer, in partnership with RMU, came off immediately after 20th Congregation Ceremony. This initiative is expected to cut down significantly the energy bill of the University which currently stands at least US$50,000 per month.
Speaking about the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Nyarko, stated that the University, as a way of reducing the high electricity bills, is now looking to the rehance on renewable energy. The University he said, has been granted approval by the National Accreditation Board to run an MSc. in Renewable Energy Engineering and thus, the University’s collaboration with REDAVIA would go a long way to provide hand-on experience to students.
Speaking at the inauguration, Erwin Spolders, CEO and Founder of REDAVIA said the cost for REDAVIA solar power is transparent and affordable. He supported the Vice Chancellor’s view that the solar farm will eliminate power grid outages that are currently impacting huge cost on the University. Positively the solar farm leads to a notable reduction in carbon emissions from a lower consumption of grid power and on-site diesel power.
On future plans, the CEO of REDAVIA, said plans are far advanced for the introduction and establishment of a new educational track around renewable energy, through the setting up of a Renewable Energy Institute in collaboration with RMU.
Information Source: Marketing Unit
Information Date: 13th June 2018