Wisconsin International University College Matriculation 2018
A speech by Yannick Nkodia, an I.T. student from Congo, Brazzaville who learned English in just five months through Wisconsin’s English Proficiency Programme, was the highlight of the 16th Matriculation Ceremony. More than 1,000 students were inducted as junior members of the institution at the event on 13th October 2018.
Drawing cheers and encouragement from his fellow matriculants, Yannick said: “When I came to Ghana my English was very bad. I was not able to understand anything. I downloaded some English movies, spent my time reading some English books and trying to have discussions with people who were good at English, even though I was not able to understand anything.
“Every day I tried to find five words in my dictionary which I had never seen before.”
The first-year student praised the efforts of his tutors and the multi-cultural opportunities that Wisconsin offers.
He went on to urge his colleagues to be the masters of their destiny. “Nothing is difficult if you have not at least tried,” Yannick added.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Obeng Mireku, said the institution is prepared to meet the increased demand for higher education as a result of the free SHS programme.
The Vice Chancellor announced that the institution had acquired a campus in Feyiase, Kumasi in anticipation of the spike in demand for university education in the next few years. The Kumasi campus is expected to serve the northern part of Ghana and neighbouring countries to the north.
Prof. Mireku assured matriculants that the management, faculty and staff of Wisconsin would do all in their power to help them achieve their full potential.
He said that was why the University had invested in state-of-the-art facilities for the Law, Nursing, Communications and Information Technology programmes.
“Throughout the course of your study, we will also provide numerous opportunities for you to develop your skills, expand your networks and prepare for employment, career advancement and entrepreneurship,” he added.
Prof. Mireku reiterated the university’s mission, which was to develop world-class human resources equipped with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to meet national development needs and global challenges.
A total of 1,122 students made up of 420 males and 702 females, representing 37.43 and 62.57% respectively were matriculated to read Business Studies, Economics, I.T., Accounting, Development & Environmental Studies Communications, Law, Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Nursing.
Mr. King Hassan Mohammed, an alumnus (2011), who is a social entrepreneur and founder of The Coin Group urged the matriculants to make every little thing count. His social enterprise is based on the principle of saving coins, which add up to large amounts over time. Mr. Mohammed encouraged the matriculants to network during the course of their study in preparation to face the real world.
The Matriculation Ceremony was attended by members of the University Council, faculty and staff, as well as families and friends of the matriculants.
Wisconsin offers a 1-month, 3-month and 6-month English Proficiency Programme aimed at assisting students to learn or improve their English. There are three intakes in a year – January, July and October.