First year students of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences at the University for Development Studies (UDS) have been formally welcomed into the faculty by organizing welcoming ceremony of  33rd Freshers' Orientation with a theme "Discover, Develop and Make Impact: Your Journey in Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences." It brought together faculty leadership, vice deans,  heads of department, lecturers and student leaders. 

The program was chaired by Prof. Rafael Adu Gyamfi, in his acceptance speech noted that the programme is designed to help first year students (freshers) understand that they are lot of opportunities and responsibilities that come with being university students.

Prof. Rafael Adu Gyamfi made mention that over the coming days, the freshers will learn about the academic system, their programmes of study, departmental expectations, university facilities and student support services. They will also interact with university management, the Dean, heads of department, lecturers, student leaders and successful alumni. An Alumni would make presentation on Career Day which will give graduates of the faculty the chance to share their journeys from UDS into the world of work.

Professor Gyamfi made it known to them that university education should go beyond obtaining a certificate. According to him, it should equipped students to solve problems, create opportunities, become innovative and contribute to national development. He urged the freshers to take initiative, ask questions and make responsible choices, and not to treat this orientation as a mere ceremony, but as the foundation for the journey ahead.

The dean of the faculty, Prof. Terry Ansah, made the freshers to understand that they had joined a faculty with a proud heritage. Prof. Terry Ansah made it clear to them that faculty of agriculture, food and consumer sciences  was the first faculty established when the idea of the university was conceived, that was why he calls it "the original UDS."

Prof. Terry Ansah recalled that the idea of the university was mooted in 1992, and that the first batch was about 40 students who were admitted in 1993. Some of those students are still in the faculty as lecturers, including the chairman of the program. Prof. Terry Ansah encouraged the freshers to link up with them and learn the history and challenges behind the faculty's growth. Prof. Terry made them to know that, the faculty began with one programme, BSc. Agricultural Technology. It now offers agribusiness, food science and technology, food security and climate change, family and consumer sciences, as well as diploma, graduate and postgraduate programmes.

Professor Ansah also challenged the perception that agriculture is for students who could not get their preferred courses. He told the freshers their admission was "not by mistake," but "divine" and "deliberate." He said modern agriculture goes beyond crop and livestock production to include agribusiness and ICT.

Prof. George Nyarko, former principal of the Nyankpala campus was the special guest speaker spoke on the topic "What does it mean to be a university student?" He told the freshers that university life is a shift of identity, from receiving knowledge to producing an impact of it. Students are expected to question research, cite it and argue their own positions.

Prof. George Nyarko urged them to manage their new freedom responsibly, unlike in the secondary school level, nobody will chase students to attend lectures or tell them when to sleep or study, the students alone are responsible for their own time and their grades. Prof. George Nyarko advised them on self-management as part of their education, someone who cannot manage his/her own time cannot manage an organization.

Dr. Mohammad Fadila, the Head of the Department of Agricultural Innovation and Communication delivered the vote of thanks and also thanked God for a successful programme. 

Story by: Tijani and Abdul Malik (UDS media)