The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has welcomed over 4,351 fresh students for the 2024/2025 academic year during its 22nd Matriculation ceremony, held on Saturday, 22nd February 2025. The virtual ceremony marked the formal induction of the fresh students into the University Community.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah shared the remarkable growth of the University’s student population. He stated that out of the 15,000 undergraduate applications received for the academic year, only 4,500 were admitted and highlighted that out of this number, 31.2% were female students underscoring the University’s commitment to gender inclusivity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. For the postgraduate level, the Vice Chancellor announced that 96 students had been admitted for the January intake, bringing the postgraduate population to a total of 1,184. Together with the undergraduates, the total student body stood at 15,570.
Professor Amankwah mentioned that the University receives several scholarship and funding opportunities that offer financial support to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Government of Ghana and key industry partners including the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited, Gold Fields Ghana, Newmont Ghana Corporation and Total Energies, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Intertek Minerals Limited are the major benefactors. He urged students to contact the Counselling and Student Support Unit for the necessary assistance to apply for these scholarships. The Vice Chancellor also noted that each fresh international student received a bursary for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The Vice Chancellor further stated that the University combines both the virtual and in-person modes of delivery for lectures for both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and encouraged students to demonstrate discipline during both instances. He underscored the University’s commitment to providing technical skills, digital skills including Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and smart systems, and soft skills which will adequately equip and prepare students not only through their academic journey but also for the world of work. He assured that the completion of the University’s Smart Systems Centre will further provide practical skills and experience in engineering practices and AI trends to allow students bridge the gap between theory and practice.
The Vice Chancellor assured students that the University will not only create the most conducive teaching, learning and social environment for students to thrive successfully but also, provide a space where innovation and creativity will be nurtured. He advised students to share their innovative ideas with the University Hub (U-Hub) to have them scaled up for the benefit of the University and wider community.
Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah urged students to always be guided by the University’s core values of Knowledge, Truth, Excellence, Accountability, Integrity, Equity, Inclusivity and Diversity as principles that will shape their academic journey and beyond and wished them a fruitful stay on campus.
The matriculation oath was administered by the Registrar of the University, Mr Matthew Kwabena Okrah.
