The students comprised three Level 300 students, one Level 400 student, five Masters Students and 15 students pursuing Doctorate in Philosophy (PHD).

Addressing the matriculants, Professor Dr David Millar, the President of the Institute, welcomed the students to the University and assured them of quality academic work that would enhance their ability to finding solutions to contemporary demands.

He admonished the fresh students to cultivate the culture of hard work, honesty and discipline as well as eschew negative practices including examination malpractices among others and make good use of the facilities and the relevant books of the University to develop their knowledge.

Professor Millar explained that the institute, which is also known as the Millar Open University was the first fully owned Ghanaian Open University in the country and was responding to advocacies being made to make paradigm shift from the traditional on-campus based universities to open universities, which ensured the feasible involvement of local experts (indigenous experts) in higher education processes as well as direct engagement with industry before the students graduated.

The President indicated that the University was well positioned to offer best services to students and said the vision of the institution was to enable them acquire self employable skills and analyze things “beyond the boundaries of disciplines, hence thinking and acting ‘outside the box’ as well. We therefore push scholarship beyond the mundane into the domain of culture and spirituality”.

Professor Millar stated that the solutions to African challenges were rooted in African culture and environment, and said academic institutions needed to inculcate the idea into students to undertake research that would unearth these solutions.

“We are convinced that Africans can, and indeed should, resolve our own problems by responding to our own challenges. MITDS has positioned itself to contribute towards solving these challenges. Hence Pan Africanism is a critical part of our scholarship. We are determined to inculcate in every student that passes through MITDS a unique identity referred to as the African Personality,” the President emphasized.

He added “in collaboration with the University of Nairobi and the Swiss Government, we are currently running a two-year Community-based Sustainable Food Programme in Kalbeon and Gowrie-Kunkua. It is refreshing to give back to those communities that are our long- standing partners as social laboratories.

“A second Research field data gathering with IFOAM of the Netherlands has just started last week with some of our students as part of this programme. We hope it will have broader and longer implications for the distant future.”

Professor Millar said the University was accredited and reaccreditation had been applied for, stated that the institution was committed to providing balanced admissions of applicants including giving access to female applicants, physically-challenged persons, and the socially excluded to pursue academic programmes.

He said the University was open to collaborate with government and other interested organizations to provide quality community services, enhance ICT-based education, to expand access to quality education and best practices both locally and internationally.